91�� News - artificial intelligence (AI)

Canada’s AI strategy targets growth but raises concerns on accountability and equity

webfull — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:48:44 +0000

Canada’s “AI for All” strategy, unveiled June 4, pairs over $2 billion in spending with ambitious targets for economic growth and job creation by 2031. Built on pillars like infrastructure, skills and responsible AI, it aims to boost adoption and close Canada’s gap with G7 peers.

But as faculty lecturer Simon Blanchette writes in The Conversation, the plan emphasizes growth more than accountability. Key gaps remain around job displacement, worker protections and oversight of workplace AI, with entry-level roles and equity-seeking groups particularly vulnerable.

Published: 19 June 2026

The Anthropic shock: Why Canada must rethink AI control

webfull — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:42:29 +0000

Who controls access to the artificial intelligence systems shaping our economies and institutions?

As Simon Blanchette, a faculty lecturer at 91�� Desautels, underscores, the U.S.-ordered suspension of Anthropic’s advanced models—cutting off global users overnight—shows how quickly a routine commercial relationship can turn into a strategic vulnerability.

Organizations in Canada and elsewhere lost critical tools without warning or recourse, revealing the risks of relying on foreign-owned AI governed by external laws and priorities.

Published: 19 June 2026

Human leadership remains essential as AI agents reshape work

webfull — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:41:22 +0000

As companies experiment with agentic AI, some are using technology not just to support employees, but to stand in for managers. While AI agents may streamline workflows, organizations risk weakening the human connections that build loyalty and trust, according to Simon Blanchette, a faculty lecturer at 91�� Desautels Faculty of Management.

Published: 16 June 2026

Why HR needs to reframe AI as a tool, not a threat

webfull — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:37:22 +0000

As AI adoption accelerates across Canadian workplaces, employee anxiety is becoming a growing concern, with many workers worried automation could reshape or replace their roles. According to Jean-Nicolas Reyt, associate professor of organizational behaviour at 91��’s Desautels Faculty of Management, HR leaders need to acknowledge those fears rather than dismiss them.

Published: 16 June 2026

Why AI time savings aren’t translating into productivity gains

webfull — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:35:55 +0000

As the Bank of Canada highlights AI’s promise to boost productivity, Simon Blanchette, a faculty lecturer at 91��’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says Canada risks overestimating the impact of time savings alone.

Even as workplace efficiencies improve, he argues the real challenge lies in turning those gains into higher-value outcomes. “Today is the day that AI will be the least powerful in our lifetime,” he says, warning that organizations need to move faster.

Published: 2 June 2026

Experts: Google search to prioritize AI

webfull — Mon, 25 May 2026 14:51:39 +0000

Google has announced that it has overhauled its search engine to be entirely powered by its Gemini 3.5 Flash artificial intelligence model. Users will no longer be prompted to choose their search mode; instead, the search box will operate more like a conversation, with the option for users to ask follow-up questions. The changes are set to take effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

91�� experts are available to discuss this topic.

Published: 25 May 2026

China’s AI labour ruling invites reflection on Canada’s approach

webfull — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:03:40 +0000

As a Chinese court moves to curb AI‑driven demotions and dismissals, Simon Blanchette, a lecturer at 91��’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says the ruling highlights how unprepared Canada is for AI‑led labour disruption.

He argues that implementing similar protections would be difficult in Canada’s decentralized labour system, where provinces, industries and unions would all need to align. Rather than trying to slow adoption, Blanchette says the focus should be on readiness.

Published: 13 May 2026

AI is changing how investment firms allocate work

webfull — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:03:47 +0000

As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in investment management, Russ Goyenko, an associate professor of finance at 91��’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says the technology is likely to reshape how firms allocate work.

AI is increasingly being used to support research, idea generation and portfolio analysis across the industry. Goyenko suggests one likely consequence will be less demand for analysts, as AI takes over time-intensive tasks such as reviewing reports and earnings calls.

Published: 4 May 2026

AI agents can automate tasks, but come with privacy and security risks

webfull — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:02:35 +0000

Most of us interact with large language models like ChatGPT and Claude through browsers or apps, but AI agents can apply the power of LLMs in entirely different ways. Agents can independently plan and execute multi-step tasks across multiple software systems, but they should be approached with caution, says Matissa Hollister, an assistant professor of organizational behaviour at 91�� Desautels.

Published: 30 March 2026

Having humans in the loop helps ensure AI produces high quality work

webfull — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:41:22 +0000

A majority of young people fear that AI will displace them in the workplace, and entry-level jobs in AI-affected sectors are already in decline.

While there are a lot of things AI can do, there still needs to be a human in the loop, Simon Blanchette told Radio-Canada.

“Humans need to be there at the beginning and the end of a process to verify a machine’s work,” says Blanchette (BCom’14), Faculty Lecturer at 91�� Desautels. “It’s not a brake on productivity, but a guarantee of quality.”

Published: 27 March 2026

91������ News - artificial intelligence (AI)