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Build out artificial intelligence here or ‘rent’ from neighbours, AI minister says
Evan Solomon says Canada must expand domestic AI capacity to keep control of systems and data while building ties with trusted allies.
Digital sovereignty took center stage at the All In conference in Montreal on Wednesday, with Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon and industry leaders urging Canada to build homegrown technology and avoid dependence on unreliable foreign states.
Michael Pelosi, Canada country manager, warned at a fintech conference on Tuesday that relying on models from a single region leaves nations vulnerable to foreign leaders who could restrict access at will.
Canadian research institute Mila and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence formalized a partnership to bolster ties, while Cohere merged with German startup Aleph Alpha to better compete with American tech giants.
Solomon argued that failing to innovate domestically forces Canada to "rent" technology and follow foreign rules, emphasizing that true sovereignty requires domestic growth and partnerships with shared values.
Germany's digital minister Karsten Wildberger and CEO Aidan Gomez advocated for a multinational approach, asserting that multiple democracies must contribute to AI development to ensure resilience rather than isolated regulatory islands.