Welcome to this week's Sunday Briefing. In this edition:
Neo Financial cuts 10 per cent of staff
Ultimarii raises $13 million Series A
An Alberta CCS hub targets 1.5 million tonnes of CO2
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Edmonton's Amii will lead Canada's new National AI Literacy Initiative
Photo: Amii
The federal government has launched the National AI Literacy Initiative, a $13 million partnership with Edmonton's Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute that will provide free AI learning to Canadians across three streams: students, educators, and the broader public.
The initiative is a key part of Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and is designed around a simple progression — understand AI, use AI, and for those who choose, build with AI. Amii will lead the programming, which is expected to reach up to one million post-secondary students and more than 50,000 K-12 educators.
The student stream offers a free, three-hour AI literacy course through a national consortium of post-secondary institutions, available from September 21. The educator stream will release the first chapter of a practical training resource on the same date, with five additional chapters to follow through the fall. A third stream aimed at the broader public will launch later this year through community partner organizations.
"This national mandate is a profound validation of Amii's proven track record in AI literacy," said Cam Linke, CEO of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute. "By delivering free, world-class AI learning to post-secondary institutions, educational spaces and communities nationwide, we are demystifying technology and empowering all Canadians at every age."
The announcement was made in Edmonton by the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. "AI literacy gives people the practical skills to benefit from these technologies, understand their risks and decide where AI belongs in their lives," Solomon said. "Through AI for All, we are making that opportunity available to students, educators, workers and communities across the country."
Workers and job seekers can also access short-duration AI training through Employment and Social Development Canada's national Training Finder on Job Bank.
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📰 Need To Know
Neo Financial lays off roughly 10 percent of its staff. Calgary-based FinTech cut 102 employees to create a “simpler and faster team.” Betakit
Ultimarii raises $13M+ Series A to accelerate critical energy infrastructure across North America. Canadian regulatory AI company secures more than $13 million in new financing, bringing total capital raised to more than $18 million, to accelerate critical energy, power, utility and mining infrastructure development. Ultimarii
Clean energy project in Alberta to help industrial sector produce more ‘responsible oil and gas.’ The Origins CCS Hub in Clive will store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year with the ability to grow to expand in the future. Calgary.Tech
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