The CEO of a prominent artificial intelligence company in Canada is cautioning against falling into “fearmongering,” particularly in light of recent concerns raised by an Anthropic researcher suggesting a more than 10% probability that AI could pose a threat to humanity within the next ten years. Aidan Gomez, from Cohere in Toronto, emphasizes the importance of establishing new safeguards for AI while also highlighting the potential benefits such as reducing living costs and advancing medical breakthroughs.
Gomez dismisses the idea of an extinction risk as fear-inducing rhetoric based on fictional narratives like those seen in movies such as “Terminator.” He criticizes the 10% risk figure as lacking mathematical basis and merely a personal impression. Despite this, he supports the notion put forth by Prime Minister Mark Carney for a global, non-industry entity to supervise and mitigate the perceived lesser risks associated with AI.
Attending an investment summit hosted by Carney in Toronto, Gomez underscores Canada’s competitive edge in the global AI arena, attributing it in part to the country’s early involvement in AI research. He advocates for continued Canadian control over the dissemination of AI technology worldwide, noting Cohere’s role in contributing to this cause through its generative AI models utilized by businesses and its partnerships with the federal government and Bell Canada.
Meanwhile, discussions at the summit have revealed plans for significant investments in AI infrastructure, including a $14.5 billion data center near Medicine Hat, Alta., and the expansion of an AI data center near Regina by Bell Canada. Financial institutions like TD Bank and Scotiabank have pledged $250 billion in financing for growth-oriented infrastructure projects, some of which will focus on AI.
In a bid to streamline Canada’s investment strategy, Carney underscores the importance of speed, predictability, and high standards. However, as some industry leaders advocate for a slowdown in cutting-edge AI development to address safety concerns, Gomez opposes the idea of industry-led oversight that could potentially reshape government regulations through amendments to antitrust rules.
Gomez aligns more with Carney’s proposal for a global “technology stability” body to ensure the safety of AI deployment, emphasizing the need for a collaborative and inclusive approach to global AI governance. In the context of AI safety, Evan Solomon, the federal minister for AI and digital innovation, hints at an upcoming significant announcement on AI safety in collaboration with Canadian AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio and Germany.
Looking ahead, industry experts recognize the challenges in establishing international safeguards for AI but remain optimistic about the possibilities given past co-operation on significant scientific advancements. Amid the competitive landscape between the U.S. and China in AI development, maintaining data sovereignty and national security becomes a critical focus for Canada as it seeks foreign investments for data centers while safeguarding essential strategic capacities.