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Elijah McCoy

Major technological disruptions can lead to periods of intense uncertainty and change—but they also open the door to opportunity. Elijah McCoy, the Canadian-born engineer and inventor depicted on the cover of this report, understood this. He built upon the trailblazing discovery of the steam engine to secure over 50 patents, most significantly to do with engine lubrication, and had a major impact on transportation throughout the late 19th century.

We’re living in similarly disruptive times, with artificial intelligence (AI) the steam engine of today. Canada is in a position to be a world leader in AI—a revolutionary technology with the potential to create prosperity for our nation—but we need to act now. We need effective public policy to capitalize on the opportunity provided by modern Canadian researchers and innovators, and strong public policy leadership to achieve AI prosperity for our businesses, citizens, and nation.