In President Trump’s AI Race, Canada Must Prove Its Intelligence

In President Trump’s AI Race, Canada Must Prove Its Intelligence. From this point on, Canada and the world will be fully engaged in developing Artificial Intelligence. Canada does lead, but a lot has to change if we want to compete globally.

With President-elect Trump’s campaign promise to “Make America first in AI,” Canada faces significant challenges—and opportunities. Trump’s pledge involves repealing an executive order by President Biden that prioritized consumer protections and national security, a stance that some technology leaders argue is hindering US leadership in AI.

The US has long led the AI field, with China close on its heels. China aims for global AI dominance by 2030—just five years away. In July, the Washington Post highlighted discussions of a “Manhattan Project” for advanced AI, especially in military applications. 

For Canada, the stakes are high. The longstanding partnership with the US will face strain as the Trump administration focuses on Trade and Immigration. However, the “America First” approach is also about AI, and Canada has been no small player, but we need to rise. 

Canada must navigate its path in a world where alliances may depend on compliance with US policies. We have a unique opportunity to lead in AI. Canada cannot afford to be held back, as we were with the AVRO Arrow Fighter plane.

Trump has expressed concerns about AI’s risks to society; that’s a good thing. The new administration’s knowledge and experience with AI are believed to need to catch up to where they really are.

Changes are coming to how the new US administration views artificial intelligence. They likely see the economic benefit and political landscape as the real focus, is to prevent China from leading, not just in its commercial use but also in its military applications. This is a very real race.

A deregulated landscape poses many risks, but businesses see regulations as a form of mitigation that can leave a nation behind in its defense and in its ability to compete.

One issue: it all comes back to what the public believes they voted for versus what the industry may want.

Economic and Career Impact

Artificial intelligence will impact not only repetitive and creative work but also media and what we today call omnichannels. They are destined to be rethought and even reduced in their impact. This is especially true as Personal AI Assistants or Agents rise in consumer usage. An AI wall is coming.

It is naive to believe that an economy will suffer minimal damage if AI is left unbridled. US voters expect a return to the past, when reliable manufacturing and mining jobs with good pay return. That’s not likely to happen. The price of globalization is only now beginning to be felt. Couple that with AI, and you have a whole new paradigm.

In President Trump’s AI Race, Canada Must Prove Its Intelligence

Now more than ever, Canada must bolster its AI strategy to remain a formidable competitor on the global stage. What we need the Canadian government to do, regardless of who is in power, is to have an MP who will be the AI Czar.  With a new department that will work on multiple levels supporting the private sector looking for financial growth, identify the occupational needs of business, align those with Provincial Education Ministers, and develop the economy and workers for a new social and economic frontier. If we don’t do this, we will be chasing the future. This must be the Canadian government’s Executive Mandate in Trump’s AI challenge. 

My name is George Minakakis. I am a Montreal-born Canadian with proven senior leadership roles globally. I have lived and worked in Canada, the USA, and China, with assignments in Europe and Australia. My business experience includes retailing, food service, healthcare, and utilities. Having served as a Country Manager, CEO and Board Director/Chair.