Between the wild U.S. and Europe’s regulatory choke, Canada must find a third path on AI

Between the wild U.S. and Europe’s regulatory choke, Canada must find a third path on AI

Between the wild U.S. and Europe’s regulatory choke, Canada must find a third path on AI

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-ai-artificial-intelligence-economy-regulation-eu-us/

Publish Date: 2026-05-11 16:00:00

Source Domain: www.theglobeandmail.com

Here is a concise summary of the article containing four key points:

  • Strategic AI Path for Middle Powers: Canada, as a middle power, must determine an independent AI strategy to enhance competitiveness and maintain economic and digital sovereignty, avoiding imitation from the U.S. or EU models.

  • Non-Ownership of Entire AI Stack: Countries, especially middle powers like Canada, cannot own the full AI stack; it’s unrealistic to have control over compute, model, data, cultural, and regulatory aspects due to economic and practical limitations.

  • Third Path in AI Governance: Canada should pursue a third path in AI governance that is neither overly regulated like the EU nor lightly regulated like the U.S., focusing instead on a strategy that promotes competition while safeguarding national security and fostering AI uptake in critical sectors.

  • Pillars of AI Sovereignty: To maintain technological sovereignty, Canada should focus on owning critical AI infrastructure, reducing vulnerabilities where economically feasible, and accelerating the adoption of leading-edge AI in strategic sectors to avoid dependence and to shape global AI rules.