Canada concludes plenary of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

OTTAWA ‐ Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming one of the most impactful technologies in the world today, changing the way people work, interact with each other and participate in the economy. Realizing the full potential of AI that benefits all citizens requires international collaboration and coordination.

On December 3 and 4, leading international AI experts from industry, civil society, academia and government, including 14 ministerial-level participants from nine countries, came together virtually for the first plenary of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), during which they discussed how to guide their collective efforts to advance the responsible development and use of this technology.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, spoke at the event’s opening ceremonies and underscored how GPAI represents a model of partnership that will foster responsible AI innovation and economic growth, grounded in the shared values of human rights, inclusion and diversity.

The plenary took place as part of the GPAI – Montréal Summit 2020, organized by the International Centre of Expertise in Montréal for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. This is GPAI’s first major event since its launch in June 2020, and it marks the beginning of Canada’s role as the 2020–2021 Chair of the GPAI Council, which provides strategic direction to the Partnership.

Throughout the plenary, over 200 leading AI experts tackled core issues across several themes: the responsible adoption of AI, the use of AI in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, data governance, the future of work, and innovation and commercialization. The event gave the world’s AI leaders a unique opportunity for exchange on the most promising ways to put AI into action and spark new projects on its impactful application.