Canada’s new AI minister says he won’t ‘over-index’ on AI regulation


Canada’s new minister of AI has talked about his broader plans regarding the regulation of the technology.

In his first speech since becoming Canada’s inaugural AI minister, Evan Solomon said the government will focus more on ways to tap into AI’s economic benefits instead of “over-indexing on warnings and regulation.” Data protection and privacy will be emphasized with respect to regulation.

Solomon also addressed Justin Trudeau’s previous federal government’s bill on privacy and AI regulation that targeted high-impact AI systems. While that bill ultimately didn’t become law prior to Mark Carney’s win in the April election, Solomon notes that the old bill is “not gone.” Instead, it will have to be “re-examine[d] in this new environment where we’re going to be on that.”

He added that Canada is looking at what other countries have done, noting that the U.S. and China “have no desire” to regulate. While he said that doesn’t mean Canada won’t regulate, it does make it more challenging to work with other groups on policy.

Ultimately, Solomon says it’s important to settle on a measured approach because AI is crucial to Canada’s “economic destiny.”

“The fight Canada faces is not to prevent change, is not constrain change, is not to scare people. It is to define it, to shape it and to lead it,” he said.

It remains to be seen how the government will go about doing that. A recent survey found that a majority of Canadians don’t find AI trustworthy. We’ve seen instances of AI stealing human-made artwork, generating images of beloved animated characters committing 9/11 and telling people to put glue on pizza, among other problems.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Via: The Canadian Press

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