Trudeau announces $2.4 billion for AI-related investments

The Liberal government is setting aside $2.4 billion in its upcoming budget to build capacity in artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday.

The bulk of that — $2 billion — is going into a fund that will aim to provide access to computing capabilities and technical infrastructure.

Trudeau made the announcement in Montreal as part of a pre-budget tour.

He said the federal government will begin consulting with industry soon on a new AI Compute Access Fund and an accompanying strategy to expand the sector in Canada.

«We want to help companies adopt AI in a way that will have positive impacts for everyone,» Trudeau said, adding that $200 million will go toward boosting the adoption of AI in sectors like agriculture, health care and clean technology.

The government plans to launch a $50-million AI safety institute to protect against what it calls «advanced or nefarious AI systems,» and another $5.1 million will go toward an office of the AI and Data Commissioner to enforce the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act.

Bill C-27 is the first federal legislation specifically aimed at artificial intelligence. It would update privacy laws and introduce new obligations for «high-impact» systems.

The proposed law has been studied at committee since September 2023.

Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Canada is a world leader in AI.

«Let's stop asking what AI will do to us, and why don't we start asking what we want AI to do for us,» he said.

Latest pre-budget announcement

The Liberals have been setting up their April 16 budget with a series of campaign-style stops across the country.

Last week's announcements were focused on housing, including money to help build