Panel

The Case for Public AI

Can public AI enable both broader economic benefits of AI tech for society, and positive impacts on democratic processes? What would public-private partnerships look like to build public AI for Canada and values-aligned partners?

DATE

Apr 18, 2026

START TIME

3:50 p.m.

END TIME

4:50 p.m.

LOCATION

TRSM

Michelle Nie

Jake Hirsch-Allen

Ana Serrano

Ann Fitz-Gerald

Bruce Schneier

Today’s most powerful AI tools are largely developed and owned by private companies, often with limited public oversight. The idea of “public AI” offers a different path: AI that is designed, governed, and deployed with the public interest at its core. Can public AI enable both broader economic benefits of AI tech for society, and positive impacts on democratic processes? What would public-private partnerships look like to build public AI for Canada and values-aligned partners?