The first national AI strategy
Canada, by CIFAR's account, was the first in the world to release and implement a state AI strategy: 125 million Canadian dollars and three institutions.
Why it matters
A state put money behind an AI strategy; by CIFAR's 2020 survey seventeen more governments had published their own, France and China among them.
The 2017 budget (22 March) provided 125 million Canadian dollars (about 95 million US dollars) for a pan-Canadian strategy for research, talent development and industry partnerships. The first phase rested on three institutions: Amii in Edmonton, Mila in Montreal and the Vector Institute in Toronto. The University of Toronto read it as help in retaining and recruiting top scholars.