Canada's AI Future: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

In this episode of Hashtag Trending on the Weekend, host Jim Love interviews Steven Karan, Vice President of AI and Data at Capgemini Canada. They discuss Canada's role in the global AI landscape, the current state of AI investment, and the importance of developing local talent and infrastructure to compete internationally.

Steven highlights the need for Canada to adopt a cohesive national AI strategy, prioritize investments, and leverage its collaborative nature to lead in open-source AI development.

fThe conversation also touches on the impact of AI on the younger generation and the crucial steps required to prepare them for future job markets.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:34 Overview of Capgemini and Steven's Role 01:28 The Pivotal Point of AI in Canada 02:19 Canada's Position in the Global AI Landscape 04:09 Challenges and Opportunities for AI Talent in Canada 08:50 The Importance of Scaling AI 13:46 Investment and Infrastructure Needs 17:19 The Role of Government in AI Development 20:48 A Vision for Canada's AI Future 23:08 Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI 24:25 The Trust Dilemma in Autonomous Agents 25:18 Championing Open Source AI 26:34 Addressing AI Skepticism 28:46 Human-AI Collaboration 36:45 Preparing the Next Generation for AI 44:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts