Champagne maintains Canada’s approach to AI ‘ahead of the curve’

Canada’s minister of innovation, science and industry says he thinks the country is ahead of the curve with its approach to artificial intelligence, beating even the European Union.

François-Philippe Champagne says Canada is likely to be the first country in the world to have a digital charter with a chapter on responsible AI.

He says the charter known as Bill C-27 is meant to give people more power over their data and ensure their privacy is respected.

Champagne maintains that Canada’s charter will be implemented even faster than the European Union’s approach, which he estimates will be finalized in 2026.

Bill C-27 is due to come into effect no earlier than 2025 and would ban “reckless and malicious” AI use, establish oversight by a commissioner and the industry minister and set financial penalties.

Champagne’s comments came at the Collision tech conference in Toronto, where entrepreneurs have been saying AI carries risks, but governments must not overregulate it.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2023.