Canada can lead in AI, but government and industry need to implement the right guardrails

As businesses in Canada and globally continue to face economic pressures, productivity and conversations about “what to do with artificial intelligence” are at an all-time high. At IBM, we see this from a few different vantage points: as a creator of innovative foundation models, a user of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in our own workforce, and as a 112-year-old company which has championed customer trust and transparency globally for decades. For years, IBM has been working to support Canada’s technology industry—and the North American tech ecosystem in general—with strategic investments and research and development, including partnerships in semiconductors and quantum computing. Now the country has an opportunity to harness the power of AI for good. But for innovation to take hold, for businesses to realize the true value of this technology, and for society to feel the benefits—as well as be protected from possible risk—both government and industry must work together to implement the right guardrails. Christina Montgomery is IBM’s chief privacy and trust officer. Photograph courtesy of IBM/John O’Boyle Just as 2023 ushered in the meteoric rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI models, it’s also brought forth a variety of AI policy recommendations from across the globe. For instance, the European Union is nearing the final stages of cementing its AI Act with new provisions specifically address foundation models. And members of both parties in the United States Congress are introducing new AI-specific bills at almost a daily rate. Canada is also moving quickly to pass comprehensive AI legislation, and it’s important that Bill C-27 takes an approach which will regulate AI risk specifically, and not regulate the AI algorithms broadly. At IBM, our guidance to Canadian policymakers is as follows:1. Regulate AI risk, not AI algorithms. Different AI applications represent different levels of risk—from a lower-risk use like an online shopping chatbot to potentially higher-risk uses like loan approvals or access to credit. IBM believes regulation must account for the context in which AI is used and must ensure that the high-risk uses of AI are regulated more closely. 2. Make AI creators and deployers accountable, not immune to liability. Legislation should consider the different roles of AI creators and deployers and hold them accountable in the context in which they develop or deploy AI. Policymaking around AI presents the ideal opportunity for government to find the right balance between innovation and accountability. 3. Support open AI innovation, not an AI licensing regime. AI should be built by and for the many, not the few. To that end, an open AI ecosystem is good for healthy competition, innovation, skilling, and security. It guarantees AI models are shaped by many diverse, inclusive voices. To responsibly introduce groundbreaking technologies means not releasing something to the public without fully understanding its consequences, providing essential guardrails, and ensuring proper accountability. We believe addressing the repercussions of our innovations is just as important as the innovations themselves. IBM’s watsonx platform addresses governance at every level—from data ingestion to model development, deployment, and monitoring throughout the entire AI lifecycle. Part of the mission of using AI for good is to ensure high-risk AI systems aren’t used for illegal, irresponsible, or harmful activities. We believe universal use limitations for high-risk AI applications should include prohibitions when the technology is used for mass surveillance, racial profiling, and violations of basic human rights and freedoms. To that end, we acknowledge the Canadian government’s proposal to implement an interim voluntary Code of Practice for Generative AI Systems that will uphold strong ethical standards while the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act continues its parliamentary and regulatory journey. We remain committed to working with government on this very important endeavour. We look forward to the continued discussions and actions coming out of the Parliament and hope to see Canada seize this critical moment. Christina Montgomery is IBM’s chief privacy and trust officer. The Hill Times