Last month, Techcouver reported on a partnership between TELUS and NVIDIA.
That collab included plans to establish a “Sovereign AI Factory” in Canada.
Slated to launch this summer at TELUS’ Quebec data centre, the first-of-its-kind Factory is a high-security, high-performance computing facility designed to bolster AI innovation while ensuring data sovereignty.
Integrating TELUS’ fibre-optic network and sustainable data centre operations, the AI Factory aims to be one of the most energy-efficient AI hubs globally, poised to run on 99% renewable energy while using up to 75% less water than traditional data centres.
It will provide Canadian businesses, startups, and researchers with cutting-edge AI infrastructure, helping them develop advanced AI models while keeping sensitive data within the country’s borders.
This week, TELUS revealed plans to establish more Sovereign AI Factories, including one in Kamloops.
Aligned with the goals of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy to advance a secure and self-reliant digital economy, this initiative will provide sovereign, high-performance AI computing resources to power the nation’s digital future, according to TELUS CEO Darren Entwistle.
“Our Sovereign AI Factories are the first of their kind in Canada and represent a key step forward in our country’s AI journey,” Entwistle stated. “This will not only make Canada even more competitive and future-ready, it will also enable the acceleration of innovations in key areas of importance in the hearts and minds of Canadians, such as health, sustainability and agriculture.”
“Importantly, this initiative will strengthen our nation’s ability to develop advanced AI technology and increase productivity, empowering homegrown businesses and Canadian researchers to innovate courageously and compete on the global stage,” he added.
TELUS was recently featured as a case study in BIAC’s report, entitled “Boosting Productivity and Business Growth – the Role of Artificial Intelligence Skills,” for its notable adoption of AI technologies.
For example, TELUS garnered praise and attention for its “Data & AI Literacy Program.” Launched by the company’s Data & Trust Office in 2021, the program equips employees with skills to navigate AI in their daily roles. Available to employees across various levels, the program offers interactive sessions, multimedia resources, and curated courses covering foundational data and AI concepts.
TELUS is the first North American service provider to become an official NVIDIA Cloud Partner and has also been working with Google Cloud to improve it data infrastructure.
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