Google funds $5m initiative to boost AI skills in Canada

Google Canada has announced a CAD $5 million grant from Google.org to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to support artificial intelligence skills training for Canadian post-secondary students.

The grant will enable Amii to establish a national consortium comprising 25 post-secondary institutions across the country. Through this consortium, Amii aims to develop user-friendly AI curriculum materials, integrate them into existing courses, and reach an estimated 125,000 students nationwide.

"Canada has an incredible opportunity to translate decades of AI research excellence into fundamental AI literacy skills for a generation of post-secondary students because of the generous support of Google.org," Cam Linke, Chief Executive Officer of Amii, said.

"Amii is proud to lead the effort to build a national AI Workforce Readiness Consortium to empower Canadian students with the fundamental literacy skills they need to succeed in an AI-driven economy. From colleges and polytechnics to U15 Canadian research universities and Indigenous PSE institutes, we're ready to support educators with access to curriculum resources across faculties, programs and domains," Linke added.

Canada is recognised for its contributions to artificial intelligence research, supported by an extensive research network, an active start-up landscape, and established technology companies that are invested in AI innovation. Public First's most recent Economic Impact Report on Google Canada projects that generative AI could add as much as CAD $230 billion to the national economy, and in Alberta specifically, the impact could total CAD $27 billion. The report also suggests that AI adoption could save the average Canadian worker more than 175 hours annually.

Despite these advantages, the report highlights that Canada continues to face challenges in AI adoption, which remains essential for achieving the projected economic and productivity benefits. Addressing the skills gap is a primary step towards increased adoption. The Economic Impact Report found that 63 per cent of Canadian workers are interested in acquiring AI skills, a figure that increases to 72 per cent among younger Canadians.

"Entering the workforce with AI skills can help Canadian students navigate the rapidly changing job market," Sabrina Geremia, Vice President & Country Managing Director at Google Canada, said.

"Google is proud to support Amii's initiative that will not only benefit 125,000 students directly, but will also help the organizations that hire them put AI to work in improving their productivity, efficiency and growth. Supporting organizations like Amii is part of Google's commitment to shaping a future where AI benefits everyone across Canada," Geremia continued.

Amii's initiative will involve collaboration across a wide spectrum of educational institutions, including research universities, colleges, polytechnics, and Indigenous post-secondary education institutes. The curriculum resources created through this collaboration are intended to facilitate broad access to AI skills, spanning numerous faculties, programmes, and academic disciplines.

Google Canada's involvement comes at a time when AI is increasingly affecting the national workforce and economy. The company's ongoing support for AI research and education initiatives in Canada includes focused efforts to translate research achievements into practical skills, business applications, and broader AI literacy.

The grant and consortium reflect a wider industry and academic push to ensure that Canadian graduates are prepared for evolving skill requirements in sectors influenced by AI. The collaborative approach aims to deliver scalable, accessible educational resources to post-secondary educators and students, equipping them for future workforce demands dictated by technological advancements in AI.