Amazon Web Services (AWS) says Canada has the foundation to compete globally in artificial intelligence but needs coordinated action to realize its full potential.
According to Unlocking Canada’s AI Potential, conducted by Strand Partners for AWS, about 650,000 Canadian businesses now use AI, including 160,000 new adopters in the past year. This represents 33 per cent year-over-year growth, or one new adopter AI every three minutes.
The findings also show significant economic benefits: 89 per cent of AI-using companies report revenue growth, averaging a 26 per cent increase tied to AI-enabled improvements and 73 per cent report significant productivity gains. Optimism is high, with 81 per cent of leaders expecting AI to boost growth next year.
AWS outlined four key measures: strengthening AI and digital skills, turning research strength into commercialization, creating a predictable regulatory environment and leading through public sector adoption.
“Canada has the foundation—leading research, talent, infrastructure and entrepreneurship—to compete globally in AI. The opportunity now is to connect these strengths, close innovation gaps, and unlock the country’s full potential,” said Eric Gales, managing director, AWS Canada.
AWS has committed to investing about $24.8 billion in its Montreal and Calgary infrastructure regions by 2037, supporting more than 9,300 Canadian jobs annually and contributing $43.02 billion to Canada’s GDP. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 300,000 Canadians in cloud and AI skills and launched initiatives such as the Artificial Intelligence Discovery Place with the University of Alberta to accelerate research.
Programs like AWS Activate provide startups with credits, funding and mentorship to build in Canada and scale globally, helping businesses adopt AI responsibly and expand across markets.
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