Canadian AI News Roundup - May 2022

Welcome to the Ask AI news roundup where we highlight the latest innovations, investments, and breakthroughs in the Canadian artificial intelligence sector. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to our podcast and monthly newsletter and following us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

May Special Offer

The Toronto Machine Learning Society are offering Ask AI followers a whopping $66 off the ticket price (that's 26% - 50% off depending on ticket type 🤯) to attend their 3rd Annual MLOps World Conference taking place June 7 - June 10 and featuring 60+ speakers and 15+ workshops.

Vist their website and enter promo code ASKAI22 to get this special offer!

AI Deals & Investments

💲 According to KPMG, Canada's innovation sector saw 213 investments valued at $3.5B USD - and the Artificial Intelligence sector represented 30%+ of the cash. Full story.

🧪 Rogers is building a new lab in Calgary focused on Machine learning, artificial intelligence, digital and cloud technologies, 5G and cybersecurity. Full story

🎭 A local theatre company in Ontario has struck a deal with a Silicon Valley tech giant co-founded by Steven Spielberg to license audio tracks to help train machine learning systems. Full story

😀 Ask AI Exclusive: How is Cohere building a global NLP powerhouse? We met Ivan Zhang, co-founder at the Toronto NLP startup that recently raised $125M CAD. Get episode

AI & Sustainability

🌊 Vancouver's Carl Data Solution has launched a new product that helps cities predict damage to caused by storms and water-based erosion. Full story.

😀 Ask AI exclusive: How is AI powering environmental monitoring in major cities? We interviewed Greg Johnston, President of Carl Data Solutions. Get episode

AI & Governance

🎦 Privacy Commissioner of Canada recommends legal framework for police use of facial recognition technology. Learn more

📊 What's the consensus on using AI in the census? StatsCan and MILA are going to try to figure it out. Full story

🚺 Women making strides in AI but are still underrepresented - but increase in female-male / female-female collaborations encouraging. Full story

AI & Healthcare

💉 The University of Manitoba has received $2.5 from CIHR to launch a collaborative training platform for emerging medications and pregnancy researchers that includes AI. Full story

🩺 Researchers at McMaster University using AI and advanced microscopes have discovered a previously unknown neurodegenerative illness. Full story

💊 Dr. Joseph Geraci, the Chief Scientific Officer at Nurosene has a paper in collaboration with highly-renowned researchers on using AI to address placebo response in clinical trials. Full story

🥼 AI models developed in Waterloo can help doctors prioritize care by identifying COVID patients at gravest risk. Full story

AI & Business

⛳ Toronto entrepreneur Eileen Jurczak has designed a new app that uses AI to provide golfers with 5 second corrective tips as they play. Full story

😀 Ask AI Exclusive: How is applied AI impacting enterprise competitiveness? We spoke with Cory Janssen, Co-CEO at AltaML. Get episode

AI & Natural Resources / Agriculture

📸 University of Calgary researcher Ke Du has added "a brain to a camera" to help industry detect natural gas leaks and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Full story

😀 Ask AI Exclusive: Can AI accelerate the shift to cleaner energy choices? We spoke to Arooj Ahmed Qureshi, Data Scientist at Waterloo-based EnPowered. Get episode

AI & Finance

🏧 TD bank places global second in the number of AI-related patent applications in private banking, but overall filings are down significantly from the same period in 2021. Full story

AI & Robotics/AV/AR

🚗 Bell has launched Canada's first 'Wavelength Zone' in partnership with AWS, bringing AI/ML computation capability closer to remote locations for AVs, drones, and more. Full story

😀 Ask AI Exclusive: How will AI create immersive content for the metaverse? We spoke with Manal Siddiqui, CEO, and Pietro Gagliano, CVO, at Transitional Forms. Get episode

AI & Public Sector

💲 Alberta is pumping $3.4M / yr into a new lab to introduce AI-powered solutions to government teams. Full story [Bonus: catch our interview with CEO of AltaML]

💲 The Government of Canada is investing $128,000 to support the Yukon's innovation sector, including the North of AI - Business Acceleration program. Full story

💲 Newfoundland's Memorial University to receive $18M from government and IBM to establish two new AI/ML intitiatives. Learn more

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