From Vancouver with Love: Our 2024 AI Revolution

While Silicon Valley debates AI risk in luxury boardrooms, BC is building something radically different. From the Downtown Eastside to university labs, we're crafting an AI ecosystem where Indigenous wisdom meets bleeding-edge tech, where community values drives grassroots innovation.

Through 10 episodes of CBC's 'Sandboxing AI' with Stephen Quinn, countless Future Proof workshops, and late nights hacking with Vancouver's finest, I've watched our local AI scene evolve into something unique. This isn't another tech hub story - it's a revolution in how we build, share, and democratize technology.

[THE INSIDE OUT REVOLUTION]

Let's talk ChatGPT - not as the digital messiah or job-stealing demon, but as what it really is: a supremely confident intern who sometimes hallucinates their entire resume. Through my work building custom AI agents for BC organizations, I've learned it's less about letting AI take the wheel and more about learning to dance with it. We're seeing local artists and writers go from 'hell no' to 'holy shit' as they discover how to amplify their creativity rather than replace it.

The real magic happens in understanding its limitations. That's when you can start pushing boundaries, finding sweet spots where human creativity meets machine intelligence in service of community needs.

[BC FOCUS STRENGTHENED]

Our BC ecosystem operates more like a mycorrhizal network in our coastal forests than a Silicon Valley machine. Through collaborations between SFU SIAT, UBC EML, the Centre for Digital Media, Circle Innovation, and DigiBC, we're building labs that feel more like community centers than sterile research facilities.

From Indigenous language preservation projects to climate monitoring initiatives, from Vancouver's thriving AI meetup scene to groundbreaking work at NeurIPS, we're proving that AI development can serve everyone, not just tech giants. Federal funding is flowing in, but we're directing it our way - toward sustainability, diversity, and community-driven innovation.

This is BC's moment to show the world a different path forward - one where technology amplifies human potential instead of replacing it, where AI serves community values instead of corporate interests.

[GROWING PAINS]

These AI systems come with their share of hallucinations and biases - issues we're tackling head-on in BC's labs and startups. Through partnerships with local First Nations and community organizations, we're developing frameworks that put human values first. Vancouver-based teams are leading conversations about AI privacy, data sovereignty, and ethical development that echo across global tech circles.

While Big Tech rushes to monetize AI, BC organizations are asking deeper questions: How do we ensure these tools serve our diverse communities? How do we protect privacy while fostering innovation? Consortiums are forming and our answers are emerging through initiatives like the Dialogue on Technology (DoT) and grassroots projects across the province.

[2025 VISION]

Vancouver won't just emerge as another AI tech hub - we'll be a model for ethical, community-driven AI development. The showdown between proprietary AI systems and open-source alternatives is already playing out in our backyard, with BC firms and researchers championing accessible, transparent solutions.

Through the Vancouver AI Community Meetups, I'm watching this future take shape. Local teams are building AI tools that tackle real challenges - from environmental monitoring in the Georgia Strait to preserving Indigenous knowledge systems. We're creating technology that reflects BC's values: sustainability, diversity, and community empowerment.

From CBC studios to startup incubators, from university labs to Indigenous tech centers, BC is writing its own AI story. It's messy, creative, and radically different from the Silicon Valley narrative. But that's exactly why it matters.

This isn't just about making fancy tech - it's about building an AI ecosystem that serves everyone. Right here, between the mountains and the sea, we're proving that another way is possible. The future isn't just happening to us - we're actively shaping it, together.

Want to be part of this revolution? The door's open, the community's growing, and the time is now.

[LEVEL UP WITH US]

Ready to dive deeper? Three chances to connect with BC's AI community this winter:

🎓 AI UPGRADE FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS: 6-week certification starting - Jan 14 Level up your creative practice with hands-on AI training.

📱 AI UPGRADE FOR PR, MEDIA & JOURNALISTS: 6-week certification starting Feb 4 - Master AI tools for modern storytelling & content creation.

Early bird pricing ends soon. Grab your spot and be part of BC's AI revolution.

As we close out this wild year, Vancouver stands at the intersection of possibility and responsibility. Our AI ecosystem isn't just growing - it's evolving into something uniquely ours. While the rest of the tech world chases artificial general intelligence, we're pursuing artificial community intelligence: technology that amplifies our collective creativity, honors diverse ways of knowing, and serves everyone, not just the usual suspects.

2024 showed us what's possible when we build technology our way. 2025 is when we take it to the next level.

The future isn't just happening to us - we're actively shaping it, together. Right here, between the mountains and the sea.

Let's fucking go.

Kris Krüg