The MAIPLE MANIFESTO
Canada, this is our moment.
The first sparks of modern AI were kindled in your universities.
Canadian talent, knowledge, research and perseverance were critical for the birth of modern AI.
Humanity is birthing a new form of intelligence, one that can think, learn, and adapt. That birth will change the nature of our economies as well as our lives in ways we cannot even imagine.
But in the words of the great Canadian author William Gibson, to some extent, “the future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.”
We declare these principles to be the core of this new intelligence:
AI Must Serve Humanity
Artificial Intelligence exists to enhance human potential. If we create an intelligence that is greater than ours, we do so with a purpose. That purpose is to create a benefit for all humanity.
AI Innovation Flourishes When It Is Open
We have made the greatest progress in AI when ideas are freely shared. So openness and transparency in our models is critical. We must be open, accessible and auditable. Even if we claim public safety for our rationale, we must be open about any change or manipulation of AI models and code.
Developers Should Be Fearlessly Ethical
There are some who claim we should fear AI. There are others who propose that we should push forward and that all will be well. We believe that there need not be a conflict. The pursuit of AI should be fearless but remain firmly ethical. It is a myth to say that you have to sacrifice one to have the other. We do not have to compromise either of these key principles.
We shape AI in our image. It learns from us. If we show it our best, we will have nothing to fear from its future development. But we will make mistakes, we will have setbacks, but if we remain transparent and open, we can manage risk and drive innovation at the same time.
Canada Should Play a Key’s Role as a Custodian
We are, as a nation, historically collaborative and in pursuit of a common good. That is why Canada has historically chosen paths of universal access, fairness, and social responsibility. These are core Canadian values and we are custodian of these values for today and for future generations.
AI must be developed with these values at its core. That is why Canada is uniquely placed to take a leadership role in AI.
Guardrails Are Not Chains
Safety does not hinder progress; it defines the moral context in which AI must evolve. Without guardrails, AI can be abused, to be a tool of hate, exploitation and even be used by those who want to restrict our freedom.
We accept that this can be seen as a challenge. How do we protect AI from improper use without censorship? How do we ensure that we have the power of data analysis while still protecting privacy and security?
These are questions that Canadians grapple with in our own unique way. We know that we show AI the best of ourselves, we can develop it to model our national consensus.
Intellectual Property laws Must Be Revised
Our current laws and practices regarding Intellectual Property need to be redefined for the age of AI. We must protect the interests of creators and respect the public interest. We must also ensure that copyright and patents must not become a weapon used to control AI development and inhibit progress
AI Must Be Accessible to All
AI will form the basis of the new economy. If we truly believe in equal opportunity, we must support equal access. Just as the internet was meant to be open and decentralized, AI must be available to all—rich or poor, urban or rural, from the Arctic to Cape Breton. Just like we have made health care universal, we must make AI available regardless of income or wealth.
AI and Humanity Must Co-Evolve
AI is not a competitor. It is a collaborator. The future is not AI replacing us but working with us to create a better world. As such we must all know and feel that we will all benefit from AI and not simply be replaced by it.
Canada Can Set The Example For Truly Open Artificial Intelligence
We turn to the wisdom of the great Canadians, Banting and Best. They developed insulin in one of our great universities.
They choose to make it freely available to all.
As a member of the G7 and international leader in technology, Canada can similarly set an example to the world of how to use and evolve AI to create global prosperity and advance human development.
A Canadian AI would ensure that AI remains free, open and ultimately accessible to all.
We Are Always Becoming
There is no final destination. We are at the beginning of a new era. We will continue to build, refine, and correct our path as AI evolves.
This is an ongoing journey, not a fixed endpoint. But if we are guided by our principles we will stay on the right path
We’d love to have you join us. Please sign below and add your comments and additional thoughts.