Canadian Consortium Targets Research on Artificial Intelligence

Several Canadian companies, universities and government agencies have created the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence to develop and commercialize AI-based technologies, including self-driving cars and advanced manufacturing systems.

The program will be led by the University of Toronto. As part of the recently announced Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Vector will split $125 million in government funding with similar institutes in Montreal and Edmonton.

The province of Ontario has committed to provide as much as $50 million to Vector over the next five years. And more than 30 industry partners—including Google, Magna and Air Canada—have pledged to invest a combined $80 million over the next decade.

The Institute will have a dedicated AI research facility open to postgraduate students. Geoffrey Hinton, an engineering vice president at Google and professor emeritus in computer science at Toronto University, will serve as Vector’s chief scientific advisor. Another 25 faculty and research scientists are due to be hired this year.

Initial research projects will focus on deep learning and machine learning.  In addition to being the brains behind autonomous vehicles, next-generation AI technologies are expected to yield significant improvements in the quality, efficiency and cost of manufacturing—including providing human operators better and more information, automating menial and safety critical operations, and optimizing machine maintenance.