Hub Podcasts AI openness could unlock Canada's next industrial revolution
Nov 19, 2025
Kevin Chan, Senior Director of Global Policy Strategy at Meta, dives into Canada’s approach to artificial intelligence. He argues for the adoption of open-source AI models, which can democratize innovation and reduce costs. Chan highlights the importance of connecting Canada to global tech ecosystems for enhanced security and local data control. He emphasizes prioritizing application-layer development, fostering local talent, and positioning Canada as a leader in AI adoption. Through his insights, he paints a picture of AI as a transformative opportunity for the Canadian economy.
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Episode notes
AI As A New General-Purpose Technology
- AI is likely a general-purpose technology that can drive a new industrial revolution and wide economic gains.
- Canada must join the global AI race strategically because building frontier models costs billions annually.
Costs Make Domestic Model Race Impractical
- Building frontier AI models requires sustained, enormous capital and compute investments that few countries can absorb.
- For a middle-sized economy like Canada, plugging into global stacks and adapting models locally is more strategic than trying to replicate those investments.
Adopt Open-Source Models And Build Locally
- Use open-source foundation models so Canada can fine-tune and run them locally on Canadian data at low cost.
- Build Canadian applications and services on top of those models instead of trying to reproduce foundation models domestically.