The demand for regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prominent in Canada. Many people are concerned about the impact of AI and are calling for the government to take action. Experts such as Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of Mila-Quebec AI Institute, are urging the government to establish legal provisions for AI. According to Bengio, all general-purpose AI systems must be covered under legislation since the misuse of those systems can become extremely dangerous for Canadian society.
The current state of AI poses significant risks to society, which can potentially affect democracy and civilization. The possibility of AI being manipulated in a politically motivated manner raises legal concerns and infringes on democratic principles. This begs the crucial question of how legislation can shape the future of AI. The discussion about updating privacy laws and implementing regulations has been ongoing, with many arguing that it is necessary.
The fear of misinformation in the political and societal spheres is growing and could harm Canadian society. Bengio suggests that Bill C-27, first drafted in 2022 to target “high-impact” AI systems, should be expanded to include technology threatening national security and society in Canada. The decision-making on artificial intelligence regulation will have a global-scale impact on all countries. Regulating AI is a global effort in which Canada must act as a pioneer in implementing legislative change to protect governance and democratic principles. The debate on country regulation is expected to continue as more people become aware of its societal implications and the lack of safeguards currently in place through legislation.