The partnership aims to boost Canada's AI and computing capabilities
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced Canada’s partnership with Nvidia, a company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, reports BNN Bloomberg.
The collaboration, highlighted during Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's visit to Toronto, aims to enhance Canada's computing capabilities through a letter of intent with Nvidia, now valued over $1.5tn for advancing AI innovation.
Although details of the agreement are undisclosed, Huang strongly supported Canada's ambition to leverage cutting-edge technology for infrastructure development.
Huang emphasized the importance of investing in Canada, known as the cradle of modern AI, highlighting Nvidia's longstanding relationship with Canada in deep learning.
This distinction is largely attributed to researchers Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, recognized as "godfathers" of AI, who have significantly contributed to the field and established notable AI research hubs in Toronto and Montreal.
Huang's visit included discussions on accelerating Canada's AI ecosystem, emphasizing government support, nurturing research talent, and creating post-graduation opportunities. This approach aligns with Canada's rich research landscape, though concerns have been raised about the country's slipping global AI talent and infrastructure rankings, as noted by Stephen Toope, president of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.
Toope highlighted the critical need for computing power to sustain AI research and development, suggesting a consortium approach backed by the government for efficient procurement of computing resources.
Given the complexities and costs associated with semiconductor manufacturing, as evidenced by the Canadian Semiconductor Council's report, Canada's strategy does not aim to rival leading chip producers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Instead, the focus is on securing computing capacity, an essential component for advancing AI, through strategic collaborations and procurement strategies. This initiative reflects a broader effort to maintain Canada's position as a leader in AI research and development, leveraging partnerships and innovative solutions to overcome infrastructure challenges.
