Federal government launching research institute for AI safety

The federal government is opening a research centre that will study risks posed by artificial intelligence technology.

The federal government is opening a research centre that will study the dangers posed by artificial intelligence technology.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the launch of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute in Montreal on Tuesday. He said the centre will be important for building public trust in artificial intelligence technology.

"If you want people to adopt it, they need to have trust," he said. "If there's no adoption, we will squander the incredible potential of many new technologies."

The government says AI can be misused in election interference efforts, disinformation campaigns and cybersecurity breaches.

At a meeting in Soeul in May, world leaders agreed to build a network of publicly backed safety institutes to advance research and testing of the technology. Champagne said Canada was among the first countries to launch such an institute.

The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute will collaborate with similar organizations in other countries as part of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, which is set to hold its first meeting in San Francisco next week. 

Governments and global bodies have been working to design guardrails for AI amid expert warnings the technology, which is already changing everyday life, could pose an existential risk.