The deal aims to enhance Canada's AI capabilities
Canada has entered into a partnership with Nvidia, an artificial intelligence technology company, aiming to enhance its computing capabilities.
As reported by BNN Bloomberg, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the collaboration with the California-based company through a letter of intent, as shared in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
This strategic move comes as Nvidia's valuation soared beyond the $1.5tn mark, spurred by the accelerating AI innovation race.
The details of the letter, signed during Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's recent visit to Toronto, were not disclosed. Huang, in a discussion with The Canadian Press, expressed his support for Canada's ambition to access cutting-edge technology for building its infrastructure.
"We've been a partner of Canada since the beginning of deep learning...and so this is a very important region for us to invest in, a very important country for us to invest in," Huang stated.
Canada's unique position in the AI landscape is underscored by its significant contributions to AI research, notably through the work of Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, recognized as the "godfathers" of modern AI.
Their foundational work in the country has established Canada as a key player in AI development, with the Vector Institute in Toronto and Mila in Montreal serving as prominent AI research hubs.
During his trip, Huang, engaged with Canadian AI leaders and researchers, emphasizing the need for government support, inspiration for young researchers, and the creation of opportunities post-graduation.
However, concerns about Canada's global standing in AI talent and infrastructure have been raised, with the country's rankings slipping in recent years. Stephen Toope, president of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, voiced worries about Canada's ability to maintain its competitive edge in AI research due to limitations in computing power.
The discussion also touched on the challenges of chip manufacturing, with most chips globally produced by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Toope suggested that Canada could achieve a form of technological sovereignty by forming a purchasing consortium, supported by both public and private sectors, to secure computing capacity efficiently. This approach aims to address the challenges of directly competing in chip fabrication while ensuring access to necessary resources for AI development.
