Warren Ali
Director in Industry Development,
Vector Institute
Unlocking Canada’s AI potential starts with harnessing top talent and accelerating adoption through Vector Institute.
In the race to harness the power of artificial intelligence, Canadian businesses are at risk of falling behind. A recent study reveals that slow AI adoption could hurt productivity in Canadian firms. But there’s a silver lining – Canada has a secret weapon in its arsenal: world-class AI talent.
The Vector Institute, a leader in AI research and application, has just released a groundbreaking report on AI talent in Canada prepared by the Conference Board of Canada in partnership with the Future Skills Centre. The findings are clear: while demand for core AI skills has surged by 37% since 2018, Canadian businesses are struggling to keep pace.
“The global AI landscape is evolving at breakneck speed,” says Tony Gaffney, President and CEO of Vector Institute. “Canadian businesses have a unique opportunity to leverage our country’s exceptional AI talent pool. But they need to act now to stay competitive.”
The report highlights a critical shift in the job market. While demand for specialized AI skills is skyrocketing, broader tech roles are seeing decreased demand. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Canadian businesses.
More key insights from the report include:
- A 48% increase in job postings for AI system operations and machine learning project management since the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
- Canadian start-ups and scale-ups face challenges in hiring senior, specialized employees, often losing candidates to enterprise competitors in Canada and the United States.
- Larger Canadian organizations report challenges in AI adoption, including cost concerns and a lack of AI literacy among decision-makers.
So, what’s the solution? Partnering with organizations like Vector Institute can help businesses accelerate their AI adoption and become part of a community that attracts, cultivates, and retains AI talent in Canada.
Vector Institute offers:
- Access to an extensive network of world-class AI researchers and practitioners
- Industry-leading AI engineering expertise
- Proven pathways from research to accelerated adoption
- Tailored guidance and programs to help both enterprises and startups/scaleups manage AI risk and put AI principles into action
- Support for companies to educate senior executives on AI governance and strategy to optimize AI adoption and AI talent attraction
- Opportunities for companies to showcase their thought leadership in advancing the strategic adoption of AI in their industries
The message is clear: the time to act is now. Organizations must leverage Canada’s investments and leadership in AI, and advanced research capabilities, to maintain competitiveness and enhance productivity. Proper governance and a corporate culture of innovation is crucial – don’t let your business fall behind in the AI race; partner with Vector Institute today and unlock the power of Canada’s AI talent.
To learn more, visit vectorinstitute.ai.
