BC must prepare for AI

This post first appeared in Business in Vancouver

As a tech entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, I often find myself at the centre of conversations about how artificial intelligence can help Canada overcome its productivity problem and lift our real per capita GDP growth from its last position among advanced economies.

Indeed, AI can be a boon, but comes at a dangerous cost which we need to mitigate through sensible regulation as soon as possible. I am increasingly concerned about the lack of safeguards in our province to protect human jobs from the encroachment of AI technologies.

AI's impact on jobs is widespread—administrative, technical, finance and even creative jobs are all at risk. According to PwC, up to 30 per cent of jobs could be automated by the 2030s. Without safeguards, we could see a substantial loss of positions, leading to increased unemployment and economic disparity. The B.C. government has shown a glaring oversight and negligence in establishing regulations to safeguard our workforce, which raises the question: Why is our government not prioritizing the livelihood of its people?

California has enacted policies to regulate AI. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order to develop a comprehensive approach to AI regulation, including a supportive framework and training programs to ensure workers can adapt and thrive in an AI-integrated economy.

In contrast, British Columbia lags, putting our workforce at a significant disadvantage. The B.C. government’s recently announced innovation strategy lacks measures to mitigate AI risks to employment. Without concrete actions to balance technological growth with job protection, we risk exacerbating unemployment and economic inequality​.

For families, the threat of job loss due to AI means financial instability, stress and reduced quality of life. For young workers, entry into the workforce becomes a daunting task with fewer opportunities and greater competition for the remaining jobs. Those in the workforce may find themselves needing to upskill or reskill, often without adequate support. Implementing safeguards to protect human jobs from AI is not just about preserving employment—it’s about ensuring a balanced and fair transition into an AI-driven future.

The scale of opportunities and challenges posed by widespread adoption of AI requires legislation that touches multiple facets of business and social life. First, B.C. requires robust legislation that helps ensure fairness and accountability in employment-related decision making in businesses. Since a majority of AI tools are black-box systems, this regulation needs to lay down the principle that “business decisions involving a human job must always be verified by a(nother) human.” This helps protect against potential errors and unrealistic assumptions that an AI could make.

Second, B.C. must set the standard in Canada in helping workers impacted by AI adoption to reskill to alternate career paths. The key is to identify industries and roles in which AI might have the least and most impact, identify transferable skills between different roles and then invest in a reskilling program.

A third vital element is data collection, quality and ethics around AI training datasets and implementation. Many jurisdictions have made substantial progress in this regard and B.C. needs to adopt best practices with a flexible but robust set of regulations that protect people without stifling innovation.

The question that is facing policymakers in B.C. and elsewhere is what kind of a world do we want to have? Do we want a world with widespread AI adoption that is well regulated, fostering economic growth and social prosperity; or a potential free-for-all which fuels even more inequality and social discontent? We need deliberate policymaking backed by expert research and I hope that B.C. can lead the way. We cannot afford to use the excuse that no other province in Canada has comparable legislation. This is even more vital given the glaring shortcomings in the federal government's draft Artificial Intelligence and Data Act that sets aside a paltry four per cent of its $2.4 billion in funding to address the social consequences of AI, such as potential job losses and reskilling requirements.

B.C. cannot afford to let AI advancements outpace B.C. regulations and leave workers vulnerable. We need to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably, without compromising livelihoods.

For once, wouldn’t it be nice to create regulations with foresight, instead of playing catch-up after the fact?