As the industry increasingly adopts artificial intelligence (AI), Saskatchewan Polytechnic has become a founding member of Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan (AiSK).
AiSK is a non-profit group aimed at fostering the growth of the AI sector in Saskatchewan and exploring how AI innovations can benefit the province.
“Really, our goal is to contribute to the adoption of AI in Saskatchewan and ensure that our businesses and organizations become more familiar with how they could use AI,” said Founder and Director AiSK interim executive Alex Fallon.
AiSK intends to bring together industry leaders, educational institutions and governing bodies to serve as a “one-stop shop” for AI in the province.
The organization’s advisory board already includes members from the University of Saskatchewan, Economic Development Regina and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
Fallon said it made sense to involve Saskatchewan Polytechnic as it continues to collaborate with industry on integrating AI into the workforce.
“Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan wants to ensure that educational institutions, industry, government and members of the public are involved. We want to be a hub for everyone, including our post-secondary institutions,” he said.
Terry Peckham, director and research chair of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Center of Excellence (DICE), said his role is to work with businesses across Saskatchewan to adopt digital technologies.
He said AI is a technology that is here to stay and will likely become an important part of daily life.
“Much like the impact of electricity on our lives, I think AI will impact our lives in the future – probably in ways we don’t even see or realize – but it will happen,” Peckham said.
AI is a controversial topic among postsecondary institutions, with concerns about cheating via AI applications. However, Saskatchewan Polytechnic has adopted this technology.
Peckham said ChatGPT had “opened Pandora’s box” regarding the potential of AI technology. As a post-secondary institution, he said the goal is not only to teach how AI can be used in industry, but also how to use it appropriately.
“As a post-secondary institution, we have several responsibilities. First: how can we help industry engage with AI in a meaningful and targeted way that is useful to businesses? And second, how to train students? Because, like it or not, it has become part of the fabric of life,” he said.
As part of this partnership, Saskatchewan Polytechnic will contribute $35,000 per year over the next three years to AiSK to host events, host industry roundtables and deliver programs and services to advance the adoption of AI in Saskatchewan. AiSK plans to hold an artificial intelligence exhibition in June.
To find out more, you can visit AI Saskatchewan website Or Saskatchewan Polytechnic DICE Website.
