Mahshid Yassaei

Administrative burnout is a significant challenge in healthcare. Every fax, form, and follow-up takes time away from patient care. Phelix is proud to work closely with WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) to power WELL AI Inbox Admin, a solution that wins back 40-60% of administrative time spent on triaging faxes, helping physicians save time and focus on delivering quality care. Check out this post from Microsoft to learn more about how collaborative AI solutions are driving meaningful changes for healthcare providers across Canada. #AI #HealthTech #PhelixAI #WELLHealth #Automation #HealthcareInnovation

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🌐 Unlock the Future of Data Strategy with Chris Allison! 🌐 Join Chris Allison, Chief Data Officer at the Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada, at the Data Analytics for the Public Sector Summit as he delivers a keynote on DATA STRATEGY. Learn how federated data architecture can revolutionize privacy protection while optimizing data sharing in Canadian Public Health. 🔍 Ready to elevate your data practices? 🔗 Don’t miss out—secure your spot today: https://hubs.li/Q02LhN8P0 #DataAnalyticsforPublicSector2024 #PublicSectorData #TorontoDataConference

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BIG news! CIFAR announces AI Safety Research Program as part of the newly launched Canadian AI Safety Institute by the Government of Canada. The CIFAR-led program will partner with the National AI Institutes, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Mila - Institut québécois d'intelligence artificielle, and Vector Institute, to take a multidisciplinary approach to address the short and long-term risks of AI systems. The program will advance the work already started in areas such as AI safety and the evaluation of advanced AI models, and ensure the safe adoption of AI in high-risk applications and privacy in AI systems. “The CAISI Research Program leverages Canada’s leadership in AI advancement. Through national and multidisciplinary collaboration on safety-first AI, the program positions Canada as the top destination for secure AI adoption, attracting worldwide investment and reinforcing Canada’s leadership in a future, where benefits are realized with confidence and trust.” - Cam Linke, Amii CEO. Read more about the establishment of the AI safety research program here: https://hubs.la/Q02XYFhd0 #AI #ML #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #AISafety #AIResearch #Innovation #Technology #Canada #Research #TechForGood #FutureOfAI #AIandSociety #ResponsibleAI

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The Canadian Public Service Data/AI Challenge drives innovation in #AI. Public servants are encouraged to submit proposals on how the government could better use data to improve services and operations. Since its launch in 2022, the #Challenge has successfully brought one idea to life as a new public service, and the second-round winners are entering the delivery phase. Participants don’t need fully formed solutions — just a strong idea and the willingness to explore its potential. https://lnkd.in/eY977brv

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Interesting to see OIX - Open Identity Exchange working on cross-border interoperability with Canada's DIACC. (And not just because I'm a Canuck.) https://lnkd.in/g-p2DAEZ

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TELUS & Amazon Web Services (AWS) discuss how generative AI is already changing the telecom industry Amazon Web Services (AWS) & TELUS executives Hesham Fahmy (CIO) and Prof Mohammad Zoualfaghari (Global Technology Lead) joined Hadi Nejatian to explore the huge potential of #generativeAI: ⚡️ Boosting productivity for knowledge workers by up to 70% ⚡️ Acting as a "great equalizer" by democratizing access to knowledge ⚡️ Enabling hyper-personalized customer experiences They also dive into real-world examples like: 🏡 TELUS' new AI-powered smart home assistant for personalized voice control 💭 Using generative AI to assist customer support agents 📡 Leveraging cloud data lakes and AI for predictive customer insights #AWS and TELUS are co-innovating cutting-edge gen AI solutions while prioritizing responsible development, data quality, and privacy. The possibilities are limitless when you have the right vision, talent, and tools! Learn more about the next level of communications ➡https://go.aws/4bJ4XG1

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Eldon Sprickerhoff, one of Canada’s most successful tech entrepreneurs, who I have had the pleasure to work with at the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University, has written a superb book. I wish that I had read the book 25 years ago. Instead, one of my own books is titled “Power in Mistake”. https://lnkd.in/gRUQ5_t7 I highly recommend Eldon’s book to all tech entrepreneurs, not just first time entrepreneurs. You may pre-order it on Amazon: Committed: Startup Survival Tips and Uncommon Sense for First-Time Tech Founders https://a.co/d/dZDyKHt

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⚡Recap of important developments in AI this week ⚡ A recent Canadian study found that AI cut unexpected deaths in hospital by 26%. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g5szhQWw LinkedIn has quietly opted users into allowing their data to be used for training generative AI models, as part of a recent privacy policy update. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gKAa9gsa Alibaba released Qwen 2.5, a collection of open-source language models, including specialized models for coding and mathematics, trained on 18 trillion tokens with up to 72 billion parameters, offering significant improvements in multilingual support, reasoning, and tool integration, and competing with top-tier models like GPT-4. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ggg8R3uC Mistral released Pixtral 12B, a state-of-the-art multimodal model combining a 12B parameter Mistral-based decoder and a new 400M vision encoder, excelling in both text and image-based tasks, outperforming many larger models in multimodal reasoning, instruction following, and document understanding, while supporting variable image sizes and a 128k token context window. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g_x4E56M Apple has launched public betas for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, introducing new Apple Intelligence tools like text rewriting, a redesigned Siri, and a "Clean Up" photo feature. These updates are compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, the upcoming iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, and iPads and Macs with M1 chips or later. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gH-iB5pW

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🇨🇦 Time for a reality check on Canada's startup ecosystem: I spoke with George Kakaletris, and we discussed Canada's focus on Startups, and how that can be a problem. We're obsessed with "puppies" (early-stage startups) but neglect the "dogs" (growing companies). We shower attention on puppies, then suddenly jump to seeking "show dogs" (unicorns), ignoring the crucial growth stages in between. What's missing? Support for companies at EVERY stage of growth. A "podium" approach like we have for Olympic athletes. Focus on real business needs: finance, operations, HR, distribution, etc. At eQuo, we're changing this. We're creating conditions for success through peer support, practical learning, and addressing the actual needs of growing businesses. We're starting with #CPG companies to help them navigate this complex vertical. Learn more at www.eQuoshift.com and join our community. It's time to stop fixating on VC pitches and build an ecosystem that nurtures companies from puppy to full-grown success. 🐕💼 What are your thoughts on our ecosystem? #CanadianStartups #ScaleUpSupport #EntrepreneurshipEcosystem

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We are pleased to announce the launch of The Digital Technology Hub, a comprehensive range of services dedicated to bolstering cybersecurity resilience among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. Equipped with capabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, and Internet of Things (IoT), the Hub aims to fortify organizational defenses, drive digital transformation and support the creation of jobs in the cyber economy. "Eighty per cent of all organizations recently surveyed in Canada, reported at least 25 cybersecurity incidents within the last 12 months,” said Francis Syms, associate dean of Information and Communications Technology at Humber. “We recognize the urgent need to address cybersecurity challenges faced by organizations across Canada. At Humber, our mission is to empower SMEs and not-for-profits with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate today's digital landscape securely." The Digital Tech Hub offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clientele, including strategic planning, cybersecurity assessments, educational workshops, and ongoing mentorship. Through these initiatives, organizations can enhance operational efficiency, mitigate risks, and create sustainable growth in an increasingly interconnected world. To learn more about the Digital Technology Hub at Humber College and to schedule your free Cyber Security Assessment, visit https://lnkd.in/ggdseiKv Paul Griffin I Carl Oliver I Francis Syms I Shaun Ghafari, Ph.D, P.Eng I Dave Smiderle I #smallbusiness #sme #cybersecurity #digitaltechnology #education

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Toronto's government software waste highlights a broader problem in public sector tech adoption: misaligned incentives and outdated systems lead to millions in waste. The City of Toronto's Auditor General just released a scathing report showing the city wasted $11M on unused software licenses. Let's break down the numbers: 💸 Total software budget (2019-2023): $235M 💸 Total waste identified: $10.9M 💸 Unused Microsoft M365 licenses: $6.9M 💸 Inactive employee licenses: $1.4M The most striking example? In 2021, Toronto bought 10,000 Microsoft M365 licenses at $5.1M annually despite Microsoft explicitly warning their network could only handle 6,000 users. The results were predictable: 1⃣ Year 1: 90% of licenses went unused 2⃣ Year 2: Over 50% still unused 3⃣ Expected $27M in productivity gains never materialized 4⃣ Security risks from keeping active licenses for departed employees This isn't about blaming individual civil servants—they're working within a system that often prioritizes bulk purchasing to save money without considering implementation challenges. The problem is structural: 1️⃣ Incentives reward immediate cost savings over long-term efficiency 2️⃣ Procurement systems designed for physical goods struggle with digital services 3️⃣ Limited flexibility to adjust plans when circumstances change 4️⃣ Complex approval processes that slow down essential infrastructure upgrades The most concerning part? This isn't new. The Auditor noted that 12 recommendations from previous software audits remain unimplemented, most over 5 years old. This persistence suggests the issue isn't with people, but with the system itself. The real questions we should be asking: ❓ How can we redesign procurement systems for the digital age? ❓ What incentives would better align public spending with public value? ❓ How many other cities face similar structural challenges? At Publicus, we believe modernizing government operations isn't about pointing fingers—it's about building better systems that enable public servants to serve effectively. We need to reimagine how government operates in the digital age. #govtech #publicsector #toronto #digitaltransformation

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Good news 🇨🇦 Tech friends: AI Tinkerers Toronto Meetup is now live! Show don't tell. Join us to share your killer AI demo with fellow AI builders and researchers, on May 30th at Shopify HQ. No pitches! We want to see your messy WIP! Let's build 🇨🇦 / acc. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g-C73dwm 💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗜 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀? We are not just “AI enthusiasts”, we are AI tinkerers. AI Tinkerers is a meetup built around live demos, for tech entrepreneurs, hackers and those deeply passionate about creating LLM-enabled applications and have hands-on experience in building such systems. For those who remember... yes this is a lot like DemoCamp :) 🎤 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘀 We are actively looking for presenters! A presentation/demo is limited to 5-6 minutes in length and demonstrates a work in progress. We’ll select 4 or 5 of the most interesting topics to present. Note, as capacity to the event is limited, we’ll be prioritizing those that can demo something interesting. 🚀 Pls RSVP and spread the word! We've needed an event built around actual Demos. This is it. Sponsored by Shopify and Shopify Ventures; brought to you by the Human Feedback Foundation AIT city organizers. Let's go 🚀

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Over the years, Canada has made a lot of investments in the building blocks of AI. But today, we announced how we're going to cement our country as a place where AI happens. We're building compute right here at home. It'll be where new ideas are discovered, where companies scale up, where your data is safe and secure. $2B was announced in Budget 2024. ~$1B to build a world's best sovereign supercomputer ~$700M to invest in commercial centres that will draw in billions of private capital ~$300M to help SMEs get affordable compute access in the near term, while we get to work building. Building this infrastructure in Canada will mean it's built in a country with renewable energy, with democratic values, and with, frankly, just the best people. A lot of people helped made this happen: colleagues in government, industry, academia, and more; a lot of people who saw a vision of Canada in the future, and are working to build it together.

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I recently read this article by Sam Sebastian, the head of Google Cloud Canada, and it got me thinking about the future of #AI in #Canada. He makes a strong case that AI will be a major force in Canadian business by 2025. He believes that AI will be used to optimize back-end processes, enhance customer-facing platforms, and even create entirely new products and services. I think he's is right! AI is already having a major impact on businesses around the world, and Canada is no exception. In fact, I believe that Canada is well-positioned to become a leader in AI innovation. We have a strong talent pool, a supportive government, and a thriving tech sector. I am confident that Canadian businesses will be able to use AI to achieve great things in the years to come. I encourage you to read the article and learn more about how AI will reshape Canadian business in 2025. #AI #Canada #business #innovation #technology #future https://lnkd.in/gXqr5yCf

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ATTN Spatial Computing and Mixed Reality startup founders! We have partnered with Global Affairs Canada, Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux, Canadian Consulate in Silicon Valley CTA Accelerator, Mixed Reality Silicon Valley program! As part of broader frontier tech investment mission to Silicon Valley - San Mateo with SplitX and Boost VC Deadline to apply - September 10. Over 8 weeks of virtual programming and a 5 day in-market program in Silicon Valley, the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) Mixed Reality Silicon Valley will equip high potential Canadian Mixed Reality innovators with the tools, training, support and connections to secure customers, investors, and strategic partners in the Northern California market. The CTA program is designed to support Canadian startups to expand their technology into Silicon Valley. Investors, partners, and customers are looking for high impact solutions to meet the emerging needs of the market and customers across the following sectors: - Enterprise - Interactive digital media - Digital health and Health care The CTA Mixed Reality Silicon Valley will run virtual programming approximately 2 hours per week from October 2nd to November 13th, 2024. Participants are expecting to be in Silicon Valley (San Mateo, CA) from November 18th to 22nd, 2024 for the 5 day in-market program. The Trade Commissioner Service will collaborate with uniquely positioned ecosystem builders to facilitate and secure meetings with high-quality local investors and potential partners. As a result, the in-market program will include introductions to VC funds, B2B meetings and engagement with C-level executives at major Silicon Valley companies, as well as pitch opportunities and private roundtable discussions. Finally, the program will conclude with an on-line wrap call on December 4th, 2024. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gHVJK7dD Elodie Masson Armando Matijević

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Here's a summary of the top AI news for last week! 🔙 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬: 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 Week 34 | April 8 - April 14 Oh Canada, my home and native land... Industry: 🚨Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $2.4B investment package from Budget 2024 to reinforce Canada's AI sector (https://lnkd.in/g4fwyCie) 🚨 Another Canadian company Cohere releases its new foundation model, Rerank 3, purpose-built to enhance enterprise search and RAG systems. It offers 4k context length, ability to search over multi-aspect and semi-structured data, 100+ languages, and improved latency and TCO (https://lnkd.in/gXNg_cvZ). 🚨Microsoft to invest US$2.9 billion in Japan’s AI and cloud infrastructure (https://lnkd.in/gJ5y4EK9?). 🚨South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Tuesday his country will $7B in artificial intelligence by 2027 as part of efforts to retain a leading global position in cutting-edge semiconductor chips (https://lnkd.in/gXCEAbk4?). 🚨Reka AI announces Reka Core, a frontier-class multimodal language model that excels at video understanding (https://lnkd.in/gWVykUD2?) 🚨Meta confirms that Llama 3 is coming next month (https://lnkd.in/g9-vB8Zy). Meta also announces the next generation of its AI accelerator chip. This new version more than doubles the compute and memory bandwidth of our previous solution (https://lnkd.in/grKmCbAV). 🚨 OpenAI has brought the new GPT-4 Turbo to paid ChatGPT users (https://lnkd.in/gUvhhjEJ). 🚨 Google's gemini pro 1.5 is now available in public preview on vertex AI, Google's enterprise-focused AI development platform (https://lnkd.in/gy_dUiEV) 🚨Amazon adds Andrew Ng to its board of directors (https://lnkd.in/g3TJKb8j) Financing and M&A: 🚨 Sam Altman and Jony Ive (former Apple design chief) is currently seeking $1B funding for an AI-powered personal device (https://lnkd.in/gCdHnE_s) Research and Innovation: 🚨Qwen team releases Qwen 1.5, a 32B and 64B parameter models that achieves strong performance against Mixtral 8x7B (https://lnkd.in/gEQjFzeV) 🚨Mistral has released a new 8 x 22B model, available on Hugging Face (https://lnkd.in/gTAA75C7?). 🚨xAI has announced that its latest flagship model has vision capabilities on par with SOTA models (https://lnkd.in/gvf9E3DY?) Other Interesting Resources: 🚨Stanford AI index report (https://lnkd.in/gtaGf32X) 🚨 Forbes AI 50 list (https://lnkd.in/g7nt9vhk)

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