{"id":66755,"date":"2025-05-27T12:33:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energi.media\/?p=66755"},"modified":"2025-05-27T12:33:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:33:48","slug":"canada-has-a-chance-to-lead-on-ai-policy-and-data-governance-at-the-2025-g7-leaders-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energi.media\/news\/canada-has-a-chance-to-lead-on-ai-policy-and-data-governance-at-the-2025-g7-leaders-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada has a chance to lead on AI policy and data governance at the 2025 G7 Leaders\u2019 Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was published by The Conversation<\/a> on May 27, 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n

By E. Richard Gold<\/span><\/a>, Cristina Vanberghen<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming sectors from health care to climate science. But amid the global scramble to lead this technological revolution, one truth is becoming clearer:\u00a0data, its platforms and its circulations, have become critical infrastructure<\/a>. And Canada, poised to\u00a0host this year\u2019s G7 Leaders Summit<\/a>, has a rare opportunity to shape the rules that will govern AI globally.<\/p>\n

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the federal government elevated AI and digital innovation to\u00a0a central pillar of national policy<\/a>, and appointed Evan Solomon as\u00a0minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation<\/a>. But ambition is not enough \u2014 Canada must now back its rhetoric with action that resonates at home and abroad.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"two
Evan Solomon, minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, takes part in the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 13, 2025.\u00a0THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christinne Muschi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Infrastructure intelligence<\/h2>\n

While AI headlines often focus on breakthroughs in generative models and robotics, the real engine of progress lies in less glamorous terrain: computing infrastructure and data systems.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s proposal to build \u201cnext-generation data centres<\/a>\u201d is about creating the backbone for globally competitive and\u00a0ethically governed<\/a>\u00a0AI. Without these facilities, modern AI systems cannot be trained, validated or deployed responsibly.<\/p>\n

AI models \u2014 like those used in medicine for developing new drugs and health services, clean technologies such as clean energy and carbon-capture or materials science \u2014 require enormous computational power and massive datasets. That data must be structured, validated and \u2014 to the extent possible \u2014 open to those who can use it.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"hydro
Ontario\u2019s electricity demand is expected to soar 75 per cent by 2050, in large part due to electric vehicle manufacturing and new data centres supporting AI.\u00a0THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Nathan Denette<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quality assurance<\/h2>\n

Our recent study underscores that\u00a0the future of AI depends less on algorithmic cleverness and more on data quality and accessibility<\/a>. Poorly labelled or fragmented datasets can introduce bias, reduce model performance or even endanger lives when used in health or safety applications.<\/p>\n

Yet across many domains, useful data remains siloed and locked in proprietary formats, lacking documentation or inaccessible due to legal and technical barriers. This status quo serves monopolies, not society.<\/p>\n

Canada holds the G7 presidency in 2025, and can provide leadership in data governance and AI innovation. A central priority should be to rally partners around a framework for ethical, accessible and well-designed datasets, especially in fields like health, climate science and materials research.<\/p>\n

Tailored data<\/h2>\n

Our call for open data isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all. It must be tailored to the needs of specific sectors:<\/p>\n