The Liberal government might as well have titled their strategy “AI to the core.” The document is imprinted with excessive promise, but it’s sorely lacking essential safeguards to protect the population and ensure that the benefits of this technology don’t only benefit a handful of tech giants and investors. It proposes a massive acceleration of AI adoption by companies, without worrying about the consequences for female workers and workers, especially young people who are already seeing their career prospects evaporating. This government is imposing revolutionary technology on us without any public debate. Instead of imposing stringent regulations to protect workers, youth, privacy and our water and energy resources, he prefers to “hurry up and boil the cage,” as the Silicon Valley motto goes. That’s why, before hitting head down, no brakes, we need a strong regulatory framework. All other sectors of business in this country, from forestry to banking, are regulated. Curiously, yet, when it comes to generative artificial intelligence controlled by billionaires close to Trump, the usual rules don’t apply. The neo-Democrats support the development of cutting-edge technologies. For AI, this translates to responsible machine learning, with narrow and encircled data sets, and targeted applications. We call for an AI strategy that puts the human at the heart of experience. A strategy that protects Canada’s jobs, data and natural resources. Not a strategy that mimics AI chatbots’ worst drifts. Present them illusory advantages and flatter CEOs of big tech companies by telling them exactly what they want to hear.

• Official Statement From NDP Leader Avi Lewis