tl;dr
Google Canada is investing $13 million through its AI Opportunity Fund to upskill Canadian workers in artificial intelligence (AI) skills. The fund supports organizations such as the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, the First Nations Technology Council, Skills For Change, and the Toronto Publ...
Google Canada is committing $13 million through its AI Opportunity Fund to enhance artificial intelligence skills among Canadian workers. The initiative targets post-secondary students, Indigenous communities, and regions experiencing high unemployment. Organizations such as the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, the First Nations Technology Council, Skills For Change, and the Toronto Public Library will receive funding to provide accessible AI training across the country. This effort dovetails with government programs aimed at increasing AI adoption, which is expected to contribute $230 billion to the Canadian economy by 2030.
In Australia, researchers at Edith Cowan University have created an AI system capable of better understanding human emotions by analyzing multiple facial expressions simultaneously. This advanced approach surpasses traditional methods that rely on single facial images, enabling more nuanced and empathetic human-machine interactions. The technology holds promise for applications in diverse fields such as education, customer service, mental health, and AI-driven therapy. The research team is now focused on developing artificial empathy while addressing challenges related to the variability of human expressions and potential misuse by malicious actors.
Ongoing studies emphasize both the benefits and risks of AI in workplace settings, particularly concerning hiring practices. AI-powered recruitment tools can improve efficiency but also pose risks of discrimination if the underlying training data lacks demographic diversity. To address ethical concerns and ensure the integrity of AI data, researchers are exploring the integration of blockchain technology. This combination aims to protect data quality, ownership, and security, providing a trustworthy foundation for AI’s broader adoption.