Few issues have received as much attention over the past year as the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The speed at which AI and machine learning is impacting and changing our lives in obvious, and more subtle ways, is exciting for some and concerning for many.
AI is impacting, or will impact, almost all aspects of our life. One of the earliest implications was on the education system which has struggled to ensure that the assignments that students are submitting were not produced by artificial intelligence. It is getting increasingly more difficult for teachers to distinguish what was written by a machine and what was produced by their students. This of course has now extended well beyond the world of education. Today some pastors give disclaimers (some jokingly and some not) that their sermons were not produced by AI. And for the record, this column and all of those that I have published have all been personally written. But I also understand the scary reality that an AI program could likely do as good or better.
Similarly, Chatbots, which simulate human conversation, are used extensively by businesses to help answer questions for customers. And while this may add to the convenience and speed of getting answers, it is also replacing hundreds of thousands of jobs for humans.
The last point is a large part of the reason why so many Canadians look upon AI with fear and suspicion. Surveys of Canadians show that the majority of people look at Artificial Intelligence with concern. They worry that it will take their job and fear that it is making it harder to discern what exactly is real. It has been reported that a common trend at graduation ceremonies is that graduates greet any mention of AI from those giving speeches with loud boos. Many municipal council meetings in the U.S. have had angry presentations by residents demanding that there be no further development of large-scale data centres in their jurisdiction.
In fact, just this past week the Manitoba government announced it would not be approving the development of a large-scale AI data centre proposed for the RM of Ritchot, stating that it would be detrimental to the environment and not produce a significant economic benefit in terms of jobs. This also followed significant local opposition which was demonstrated by thousands of people signing a petition opposed to the AI data centre.
Also, this last week, the federal government released an Artificial Intelligence strategy. It proposes to help companies take advantage of AI technology by offering access to capital, while at the same time helping to create AI related jobs and ensure that Canadians benefit from the advancement of this technology. The strategy acknowledges that the advancement of Artificial Intelligence cannot be stopped but that there need to be guard rails in place around it, without providing much in the way of detail.
Already it feels that both Canada and Manitoba are in the place of reacting to what is happening in the world of AI rather than executing on a well thought out and transparent plan. Other large hyperscale data centres will undoubtedly look at Manitoba as an attractive place to establish. As well, the way in which AI changes our lives and job market will continue and likely accelerate. We need to be better prepared to articulate what is in the advantage of Manitoba and Canada to act upon in terms of Artificial Intelligence and what comes at too high a current and future cost. The future is here, and it is time we catch up with a strategy on how to deal and capitalize on it.
