By: Kathleen Sandusky
4 Apr, 2024
Sun Life gift helps train Canada’s workforce for the responsible adoption of AI
April 4, 2024
Sun Life and CIFAR partner to deliver free online AI skills training.
As artificial intelligence continues to capture the world’s imagination, business leaders across Canada are recognizing the urgent need to ensure their employees are trained in both the opportunities and risks of this fast-moving and transformational technology.
Sun Life understands the importance of preparing their workforce for the age of AI and has partnered with CIFAR in support of Destination AI / Objectif IA; a free online course introducing AI literacy for all Canadians. A generous gift of $100,000 affirms Sun Life’s commitment to fostering digital and artificial intelligence literacy for all Canadians. Starting this month, the course will be made available to all Sun Life employees globally via their online training portal.
“We’re very pleased to launch Destination AI / Objectif IA to our employees,” says Laura Money, EVP and Chief Information and Technology Innovation Officer at Sun Life. “AI literacy is becoming an essential skill, whether in the workplace or in other aspects of daily life. At Sun Life, we’re focused on being a digital leader to help create meaningful client impact. Embracing emerging technology in safe and secure ways is part of our culture, and Destination AI / Objectif IA will help our people continue to build the skills they need to deliver on our purpose of helping clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.”
A recent report by Deloitte Canada’s AI Institute, in collaboration with CIFAR and Canada’s National AI Institutes, details Canada’s success in preparing our nation for the changing landscape of an AI-driven world, with our AI ecosystem outperforming that of many G7 peers. But though the report notes Canada’s outstanding leadership in AI to date, the authors caution that Canada still has work to do to maximize the potential of responsible AI to drive innovation, societal benefits and economic growth.
A key recommendation in the report is that Canadian businesses must accelerate AI-readiness across their workforces, from front-line workers to the C-suite.
“No matter the product or service, AI is already influencing work processes in every business in Canada, across nearly every job function,” says Elissa Strome, Executive Director of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. “We applaud Sun Life’s initiative in recognizing this important need to train their employees in AI literacy, and further, for extending training opportunities for all Canadians through their philanthropic support of this free online course.”
Developed in partnership with France’s Institut Montaigne, Open Classrooms and Fondation Abeona, Destination AI / Objectif IA has been adapted for Canadian audiences, and is available in French and English with the support of CIFAR through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. The course requires less than 5 hours to complete, is self-paced, and offers a certificate upon successful completion.
As the field of AI rapidly advances, the curriculum offered within Destination AI / Objectif IA is continually updated by experts. Three new modules on generative AI were recently introduced to the course, helping learners to understand the technology behind commonly-used tools such as ChatGPT, along with the potential risks and opportunities.
“You would be hard-pressed to find a Canadian today who isn’t engaging with AI in some way, so it’s important that all of us understand at least the basics of this powerful technology,” says Strome. “By helping their teams, and all Canadians, to navigate AI responsibly, companies like Sun Life are leading the way in preparing our nation for the growing challenges and opportunities of AI.”
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