Deloitte says Canada falling behind on AI, proposes "made in Canada" framework

In a new report, Deloitte says Canada need to seize the moment and embrace a “bold, homegrown AI framework.” * An April Fool's Day article proudly presented by the chatbots at Consultancy.org *

The report – “Building Canada’s brightest AI future” – notes that Canada has strong AI foundations, but is falling behind in adoption. According to Deloitte research, only 26% of Canadian organizations have implemented AI compared to 34% globally. Meanwhile, Canada’s position on the Global AI Index has fallen from fourth place in 2021 to eighth place in 2024.

Deloitte says that Canada could miss out on the estimated 5-8% GDP boost that AI could deliver over the next decade.

AI adoption doesn’t actually confront the hard problems of the Canadian economy: an overreliance on resource extraction, a declining manufacturing sector, a worrying worker productivity trend, a declining birthrate papered over with mass immigration, economic dependence on an unreliable neighbour, and an ever-inflating housing bubble. But AI sounds like it could fix most everything, because it can be anything to anyone.

Those who would benefit from its implementation, such as Deloitte, are heavily incentivized to report how critical the moment is and how the technology can supercharge productivity and the overall economy. Taking a wait-and-see approach to ascertain if the technology has viable use cases or waiting for the technology to mature is a bad idea. It's the time-tested, time-pressure sales tactic. Borderline hucksterism masquerading as concerned advocacy.

The consultancy’s report says that an “excessively risk-averse mindset” and a “significant trust gap on the part of Canadians” have impeded the adoption of AI. These are presented as bad things, instead of healthy skepticism to the technology business’ latest snake oil product or Pandora's Box.

Seize the carp

“Today’s conversation around AI must shift from why it matters to how we take action to implement and sustain it for lasting impact,” said Jas Jaaj, global AI ecosystems & alliances leader and managing partner of AI for Deloitte Canada. “Our framework equips strategic leaders and policymakers with a clear path to move beyond experimentation to scale AI boldly and responsibly. And our message is clear – the time to act is now if we want to be in the driver's seat of creating an AI future that is uniquely built for the long-term prosperity of our country.”

Deloitte provides a strategic roadmap with three imperatives to help public and private sector leaders drive AI adoption and position Canada as an AI powerhouse. Leaders should focus on value creation; cultivate responsible AI and support AI literacy; and prioritize equitable and sustainable AI.

These points suggest that without responsible stewardship, AI adoption will lead to wasting massive amounts of money on use cases with uncertain ROI, or that AI will drive inequitable outcomes – such as putting creatives and unskilled labor out of work while further enriching technology brahmin and company owners.

The report notes the critical role of strategic leadership and policy excellence in scaling AI. Fortunately, trust in the skillful guidance of the political and corporate leadership caste has never been higher. They’ll make the right calls on AI, just like they have on housing, and infrastructure, and healthcare, and corporate taxation, and the rest. It won’t just be another mechanic to expand economic inequality – the great project of our post-Reagan society.

At least we can do one thing right.

(This April Fool's article was written by ChatGPT).