Welcome to the Ask AI news roundup where we highlight the latest innovations, investments, and breakthroughs in the Canadian artificial intelligence sector.
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Sustainability
đČVIA Rail Canada is extending a pilot project which tests the use of AI to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions produced from its rail operations. Full story
⥠The Federal Economic Development Agency has invested in Ottawa's BluWave-ai Inc who use AI to help utility companies add renewable energy sources to their electricity grid. Full story
â New pilot project collects sewage samples from planes that land at Toronto's Pearson International Airport to help experts look for new strains of COVID-19. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: How can AI make an impact in carbon-intensive industries? We asked Mark Speaker, Industry Solutions Executive at Microsoft Canada. Get episode
Governance & Society
đ€ Criminal defense lawyer and Concordia PhD student Neha Chugh believes there arenât yet enough safeguards against human or machine biases to use AI in criminal justice. Full story
đ ForYou is a card-based pattern-matching game about artificial intelligence and privacy that aims to help youth understand the role that algorithms play in their online and offline lives. Full story
đą Tata and the Urban Data Centre at the University of Torontoâs School of Cities are collaborating on a catalogue of urban data sets to allow small cities to discover relevant data. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: Can AI help preserve indigenous languages? We spoke with Anna Kazantseva, Research Officer for Indigenous Language Technologies, NRC. Get episode
Healthcare & Public Safety
đ©ââïž New UWaterloo study is using AI to track high school substance abuse. "Machine learning has advantages over traditional statistical methods", Helen Chen, public health professor. Full story
đĄ Toronto's Pearson airport is testing AI-operated weapons detection technology to combat the rise in âghost gunsâ. Full story
đ University of Ottawa's Telfer School is launching a new Learning Health Systems Modeling Lab to test more efficient and effective means of organizing healthcare. Full story
đ Ontario Smart Beach project developing an AI based real-time warning system to give beachgoers up-to-date information concerning local water conditions. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive:How is AI accelerating the science behind pharmaceutical research?
We checked-in with Liran Belenzon, co-founder & CEO of BenchSci. Get episode
Business
đ Private AI secures $8M USD in funding to expand their "Privacy Layer for Software" that identifies, removes, and replaces personal data with an unparalleled level of accuracy. Full story
đ€ Vancouver's Charli AI launches Ancaeus platform to apply generative AI to the automation of aministrative assistants at major enterprises. Full story
đž Traders and AI scientists at RBC and Borealis AI collaborate to deliver a real-world AI solution to help improve trading results and insights for clients in a measurable and explainable way. Full story
đŠ The surprise emergence of a unicorn startup in Newfoundland provides a clue about AIâs near future in business. Full story
đ Google Canada opens doors to new office in downtown MontrĂ©al and commits $2.75 million towards QuĂ©bec's tech ecosystem and digital skills training. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: How is applied (and responsible) AI impacting enterprise competitiveness? We spoke with Cory Janssen, Co-CEO at AltaML. Get episode
Natural Resources / Agriculture
â Harvest Corp Technology and Triton Innovation of Tillsonburg, Ontario have announced an AI-powered apsaragus harvesting machine to be available in Spring 2023. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: How is AI making greenhouse production more efficient? We met with Yves Daoust, Founder and CTO at Winter Farm who were awarded $2.9M to find out. Get episode
Robotics/AV/AR
đ€ UofT professor Angela Schoellig has earned an Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship from NSERC for autonomous robotics research. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: How will AI create immersive content for the metaverse? We asked Manal Siddiqui, CEO, and Pietro Gagliano, CVO, at Transitional Forms. Get episode
Public Sector
đ SCALE AI, Canada's AI Global Innovation Cluster, has announced $25 million in investments to support six AI projects in key areas. Full story
đ±Quebec's EXFO receives $15.9 million contribution from Canadian federal government to advance 5G telecommunications. Full story
đ Artificial Intelligence is playing an increasing role in visa processing for immigrants to Canada, as is the bulk processing of applications. Full story
đ Ask AI Exclusive: How does Canadaâs NRC support artificial intelligence? Catch our interview with Dr. Carolyn Watters, Chief Digital Research Officer, NRC. Get episode
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