Canadian Author Rosemary Sullivan’s book, The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation, drew worldwide attention upon its publication on January 17, 2022. The book documents research from a five-year investigation into who betrayed Anne Frank by alerting the Nazis to her and her family’s whereabouts. The cold-case investigation team involved more than 20 core people plus dozens of consultants and helpers. Of significance was the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) by the investigation team.

In recent years, players within Canada’s financial services industry, from banks to Fintech startups, have shown early and innovative adoption of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning (“ML”) within their organizations and services. With the ability to review and analyze vast amounts of data, AI algorithms and ML help financial services organizations improve operations, safeguard against financial crime, sharpen their competitive edge and better personalize their services.

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) promises to transform many aspects of everyday life for Canadians. AI tools are predicted to dramatically improve the provision of heath care by improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of diagnostic tools, treatment decisions, and care. Although AI innovations are, in many cases, still years away from general deployment into the Canadian health care ecosystem, AI is already used in some circumstances to read medical images, allowing machine learning to support diagnosticians in their decision-making.

The tech world trend of artificial intelligence (“AI”) is becoming increasingly prevalent in employment matters. For example, employers are using AI to attract candidates, evaluate job performance and automate certain positions; however, there are controversies over the use of AI, including it resulting in the continuation of patterns of bias and discrimination in employment-related decision making and the potential of compromising privacy rights.

To maximize hiring efficiency, your business has decided to employ artificially intelligent technology to scope out job applicants and recommend top candidates. Unbeknownst to your business, the technology’s algorithm is biased in favor of white male candidates. Your business is sued for hiring discrimination. Could the business be held liable? If not, who could be?

As technology surrounding artificial intelligence (“AI”) continues to improve, so does its capacity for increasingly complex tasks. In fact, some AIs have become so advanced that they now have the capacity to conceptualize and create inventions.

Arbitration is a flexible, efficient and cost-effective way for parties to resolve disputes, often with the added benefits of a confidential, tailor-made process that suits the parties and the dispute, and that can lead to a quick and final determination. 

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) regulations are steadily emerging in the United States. On May 17, 2024, Colorado became the latest state to join this movement with the signature by Governor Jared S. Polis of Senate Bill 24-205 (the "Colorado AI Act" or the "Act").

The infrastructure sector is on the cusp of a technological revolution, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) poised to transform the way public and private assets are designed, built, managed, and operated.

On June 20, 2024, McCarthy Tétrault held an event focused on helping businesses in Canada and beyond navigate the implications of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (“EU AI Act”) and Canada’s proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (“AIDA”). 

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is making its way into a wide variety of products, services, and business models. You’ve likely seen advertisements for AI-integrated products like laptops, refrigerators, and maybe even bird feeders.

In the past several years, artificial intelligence (“AI”) has exploded into the public consciousness and emerged as a driving economic force that underpins some of the world’s largest companies and most exciting new start-ups.

On September 5, 2024, Canada’s major trading partners including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS 225). 

In a time where artificial intelligence (hereafter “AI”) is increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, the need for a comprehensive framework to ensure its ethical and responsible use has never been more pressing.