Recent years have been marked by extraordinary progress with Artificial Intelligence technology. These major developments have provided a window into a not-so-distant future when AI will play an increasingly big role in our economy and society. The purpose of this series of interviews and articles is to better understand Canada’s own AI ecosystem, how AI technology will contribute to the country’s economy, and the role of public policy that can support its development and deployment for the betterment of Canada.
To that end, The Hub spoke with Cameron Schuler to get his expert insight on the future of AI in Canada. Cameron is the chief commercialization officer and vice president of industry innovation at the Vector Institute and the former executive director of Amii, where, for eight years, he led one of the top-ranked machine learning and AI groups in the world.
THE HUB: Help our audience understand Canada’s AI ecosystem. In broad terms, how it is distributed across the country, what’s the general mix between big and small firms, and to what extent are they working on AI as general-purpose technology versus AI-enabled applications?
CAMERON SCHULER: The Canadian AI ecosystem is a mix of researchers, start-ups, large enterprises, VC firms, and government investments. In the 10 years through 2023, Canada attracted almost $11 billion USD of private investment in AI, the fifth largest total in the world. AI startups are highly concentrated in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Toronto leads Canada’s AI landscape with over 454 AI start-ups headquartered in the city, while Ontario secured $1.16 billion in AI venture funding in 2023—the highest investment across all Canadian provinces.
Given AI, like digital, is a general-purpose technology, any start-up has an opportunity to have AI baked into its products or services in some way. Similarly, established companies are integrating AI into their businesses. So increasingly all companies are AI companies, and Vector’s job, through our work with our industry partners and through our FastLane program, is to make sure that trend continues.
THE HUB: How has Canada’s AI ecosystem evolved? And what has been Vector’s role in facilitating and supporting its growth?
CAMERON SCHULER: Canada has a strong history of deep learning and AI research. We were early in recognizing its potential to transform economies and lives. Geoff Hinton, Vector’s chief scientific advisor and co-founder, planted the flag for AI firmly in Toronto. He made significant AI breakthroughs that led to his recent Nobel Prize. Talent followed in Geoff’s wake, which is why Toronto continues to be a leading talent hub in North America. We are one of the only cities with a net inflow of tech talent. Today, Vector helps attract and upskill AI talent then bridges the gap between these AI researchers and industry, helping organizations hire these people and also apply their cutting-edge research to solutions these companies are developing. Since Vector launched in 2017, we have been a connector in the space, focused on fostering the “AI ecosystem” in Canada, particularly in Ontario. The goal is to attract the best talent from around the world and keep them here—working in industry or continuing in their research—so all Canadians can benefit from the economic and social benefits of AI.
THE HUB: How is Canada’s AI ecosystem connected to the global industry? How should we understand it in the broader global context?
CAMERON SCHULER: In today’s hyper-connected economy, AI isn’t just transforming business—it’s redefining competitive advantage. While global giants race to secure AI talent, Canada stands at the forefront of this revolution. Our strategic advantage? A thriving AI ecosystem that’s already delivering results. Look no further than Canada’s Big Five banks—all of which were founding sponsors of Vector—ranked in the top 25 on the global banking Evident AI Index in terms of AI adoption and innovation. Or Toronto-based start-up Wahi, a digital real estate platform, who Vector helped to build an AI-powered realtor recommendation system.
THE HUB: Why does it matter that Canada has a vibrant AI ecosystem? What’s the case that it ought to be a priority for Canadian policymakers?
CAMERON SCHULER: AI has incredible potential to transform the economy, improve the way we work, and enhance our way of life. It touches everyone and everything, and very soon, like electricity, it will be fully integrated into our lives. The global race to scale up and adopt AI is on, and Canada is currently at the forefront.
But our position isn’t secured. Other countries are rapidly adopting this technology, and failure to do so will leave those countries that don’t behind. We have an advantage that can make sure Canadian values and Canadian ideas help shape this globally in-demand technology.
Equally, companies that fail to adapt will also find themselves at a competitive disadvantage. Vector wants to make sure that doesn’t happen. Given the unpredictable currents rippling across the global economy, Canadian companies should seize the moment and invest in the rich ecosystem of made-in-Canada AI technology and talent.
What makes Vector unique is combining great research and helping companies apply that to solutions and products. To make sure we can seize every opportunity in the economy of the future, and set every generation up for success, we need to scale up our innovation ambitions.
THE HUB: What can Canadian policymakers do to better cultivate and support the country’s AI ecosystem?
CAMERON SCHULER: Canada is a leader in this critical sector. It was the first country in the world to establish a national AI strategy in 2017. Many have since looked to Canada as a model for establishing their own AI strategies.
In 2025, there is still more to do to harness the opportunities in this rapidly evolving sector. We need to continue building the foundational AI infrastructure necessary to retain top talent and support Canadian startups. Investments in Canada’s AI computing infrastructure are a necessity to continue AI commercialization and compete with other countries. They are also an investment in national security and technological sovereignty, securing Canada’s place in the global AI race.
The entire AI ecosystem—researchers, industry, and government—has a role to play in keeping Canada well-positioned to benefit from this transformative technology.
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