Alberta to invest $3.4M annually for province’s first artificial intelligence lab

Alberta is investing in the province’s first artificial intelligence (AI) lab, also known as GovLab.ai.

#FlashbackFriday to when we kicked the week off with the announcement of https://t.co/apNpy0pomX. The program has officially started and we can't wait to see what the first cohort comes up with. #GovLabAI #IHeartABTech #appliedai #canadaai #canadiantech pic.twitter.com/VnbsxkkzUZ

— AltaML (@altaml_com) May 6, 2022

The initiative was launched as part of the Alberta Technology Innovation Strategy and alongside AltaML, which is a Canadian artificial intelligence company.

The AI lab’s goal is to shape Alberta’s digital future, according to a government release.

AltaML will work with government, post-secondary students, and recent graduates as they work to develop products and services that would use AI to solve complex, real-world problems.

The lab hopes to create intellectual property and also boost Alberta’s economy.

“Strengthening Alberta’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence is a key objective of the Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy. By providing opportunities for students and government staff to build skill sets, we are moving our province forward and building an economy for the future,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation.

The Alberta government will invest $3.4 million annually into GovLab.ai and in partnership with Mitacs, hopes to support job opportunities for post-secondary students.

Mitacs is a Canadian non-profit research organization that partners with academia, private industry and government to provide training programs in industrial and social innovation.

AltaML estimates that AI will yield approximately $100 million in benefits for Alberta over the next five years.

GovLab.ai’s purpose is to encourage the growth of machine learning and AI skills, which are becoming increasingly in demand in Alberta and around the world.

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One of the features of the new tech lab is a talent accelerator for public service professionals, post-secondary students and recent graduates, the province says.

Students will have the ability to get hands-on experience in developing solutions.

“We are excited to work with the Government of Alberta and AltaML on GovLab.ai.,” said John Hepburn, CEO of Mitacs. “Innovation is an incredibly important part of Alberta and Canada’s future and this new collaboration will give students an opportunity to develop the hands-on skills that will be vital to solving society’s biggest problems.”