The Canadian federal government has committed $24 million to bolster artificial intelligence (AI) research, primarily benefiting the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (AMII) in Edmonton. This funding will support 42 Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) AI chairs, with 32 of these positions based in Edmonton, including 24 at the University of Alberta. Evan Solomon, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, announced the funding during the Upper Bound Conference at the Edmonton Convention Centre, highlighting the pragmatic approach to investing in AI. He emphasized the potential for AI to transform various sectors, including healthcare and agriculture, while also addressing concerns about privacy and job security. The funding announcement follows a successful $30 million recruitment campaign by AMII, aimed at attracting top researchers to the region. Cam Linke, CEO of AMII, noted that this investment will allow for continued world-leading research and collaboration with industry. The CIFAR AI Chairs program, which began in 2017, now supports 143 researchers across three national AI institutes, facilitating long-term funding and collaboration opportunities.