Vector Institute Announces 'Remarkable' AI Conference
The Vector Institute in Toronto will host its third annual 'Remarkable' conference on February 19-20, 2026. The organization issued an advisory for the two-day event, which will showcase the latest developments in AI research and industry innovation. The conference brings together researchers and industry leaders to highlight Canada's role in the global AI landscape.
- The Vector Institute was founded in March 2017 as an independent non-profit with the goal of attracting and retaining top AI talent in Canada. Its founding scientists include Geoffrey Hinton, often called the "Godfather of Deep Learning," who serves as the institute's Chief Scientific Advisor. - It is one of three major AI institutes, along with Montreal's Mila and Alberta's Amii, that form the backbone of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. - The institute launched with significant financial backing from both public and private sectors, including initial commitments from the governments of Canada and Ontario, and companies like Google and Uber. - Previous 'Remarkable' conferences have grown in scale, with the 2025 event drawing more than 1,800 attendees from over 40 countries to discuss AI implementation and research. - A key topic at the 2025 conference was Canada's need to expand its domestic AI computing capacity to keep pace with global leaders, a concern voiced by industry figures like Deloitte's Chief Science Officer, Ian Scott. - The institute's current President and CEO is Tony Gaffney, who took over from the inaugural CEO, Garth Gibson, in 2023. - In 2024, the Vector Institute relocated its headquarters from the MaRS Discovery District to the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus in Toronto. - Vector's research focuses on areas like machine learning, AI for health, and trustworthy AI, and has led to practical industry applications such as a partnership with Telus to reduce data center energy consumption.
