$30M Amii investment into AI an 'enormous step forward' for research
A $30-million injection into the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) will help recruit top artificial intelligence talent to Edmonton to drive research and technology development with the University of Alberta.
On Tuesday, Amii announced the new funding — to be provided over five years by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research — will support hiring 20 new AI research chairs and extending funding for four existing faculty members.
Those chairs will look to increase technological understanding of current AI applications, connect research with industry and develop new research to advance the field, U of A president Bill Flanagan explained.
"Adding these AI chairs will boost our global reputation for research excellence and continue to signal to Canada and the world that we are uniquely positioned to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges," Flanagan said.
The university will focus on employing AI professionals specializing in health, energy, and Indigenous initiatives for health and humanities.
University of Alberta President Bill Flanagan speaks with reporters on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 (CTV News Edmonton/Matt Marsall).
'THE BEST IS YET TO COME'
Cam Linke, Amii CEO, told reporters 11 key researchers had spearheaded AI research over the past decade, so adding another 20 people represents another "enormous step forward" for Edmonton and the province.
AI can be applied to any field because of its endless potential to predict challenges, develop problem modelling and optimize existing processes, Linke said.
While AI is already a powerful tool, Linke says, "the best is yet to come."
"It's still growing like crazy," he added. "That's why we are continuing to invest in research in the area. There's new opportunities and impacts every day."
Amii is already working with more than 100 companies to bridge research the university conducts with companies seeking innovative solutions, Linke said.
- U of A integrating artificial intelligence into exoskeleton technology
- New laser microfabrication suite at U of A offers researchers sharper lab equipment
Amii bridges AI research with industry experience to promote the technology in various real-world applications (CTV News Edmonton/Matt Marshall).
Osmar Zaiane, U of A computing science professor and Amii research fellow, is working on a project to detect diabetes using retinal images.
"Many of the amazing AI techniques are black boxes. So they are very accurate; they can tell you, for example, this patient has this cancer or whatever, even better than humans," Zaiane shared.
"But when you ask it, 'Why did you make that decision?' It's a black box. It doesn't tell you why. It's just accurate, and that's it.
"We are working on making these black boxes explainable," he added.
- Distracted driving cameras being tested in Edmonton
- 'Absolutely priceless': Alberta rancher using facial recognition, phone app to monitor cows
Derek MacKenzie is a soil scientist and associate professor in the U of A's Faculty of Agricultural Life Environmental Sciences. He is collaborating with data scientists to glean insights from historical soil data to inform future management practices.
"Artificial intelligence is really useful in seeing patterns. Because we have such a large data set, it's not easy for humans to see patterns and relationships," MacKenzie said.
"It's much easier for a computer to do that," he added. "We are trying to tap into artificial intelligence to see patterns in that or long-term trends… to help us predict output in the future."
For Flanagan, AI's ability to break the boundaries between disciplines and generate new improvements is why it is a key focus for the university.
"It's absolutely extraordinary," he said. "It's a field that applies across the board, and it is expanding our capacity in research in really an exponential fashion.
"It's hard for us to even imagine the impact that it will have on all of our lives in the next 10 to 20 years."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.