As AI reshapes how people learn and work, access to it risks following the lines that already divide opportunity. AI Access helps people from lower-income backgrounds gain practical access to AI skills, education and career pathways, built with the communities it serves and starting in Ottawa.
AI is quickly becoming part of everyday work, hiring and public services. Without deliberate effort, the people with the least access to training and technology fall further behind, widening a gap that is still forming. Closing it early is easier than repairing it later.
We are starting with one thing done well: free, bilingual AI-literacy and employment-skills workshops in Ottawa. The fuller programming below is what we plan to grow into with partners and funding.
The initiative works through organizations people already trust. Community partners help shape the programming, while we bring instructors, universities, employers and funding to the table.
As the initiative develops, it will be guided by these commitments.
The initiative begins in Ottawa and runs in English and French. Over the coming years it aims to grow through partners to include free learning, mentorship, scholarships, employer pathways and an annual public report on Canada's AI opportunity gap.
Launch bilingual AI-literacy workshops in Ottawa with the first community partners.
Add mentorship, scholarships and employer pathways, and extend to more neighbourhoods and partners.
Publish an annual report on Canada's AI opportunity gap and share what works.
We are building this with community organizations, employers, universities and funders. If that is you, we would like to talk.
Partner with us