Samsung opens state-of-the-art AI Centre in Toronto
Samsung Research America (SRA) has opened a new state-of-the-art artificial intelligence centre at the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.
This move comes as part of the tech giant’s latest venture of tapping into the rapidly growing AI industry in Canada’s largest city.
The new AI centre in Toronto will be Samsung’s second in North America, with the other located in Silicon Valley. This announcement comes on the heels of Samsung’s two additional and newly established AI Centres in Cambridge, UK and Moscow, Russia.
The new Toronto facility is led by Dr. Sven Dickinson, who formerly chaired the University of Toronto’s Computer Science department and has expertise in object recognition.
“Toronto and the GTA are epicentres of machine learning and one of the world’s foremost hubs for AI research and development. Home to not only world-class talent, but also some of the most innovative start-ups in the artificial intelligence field,” said Dr. Larry Heck, Co-Head of Global Artificial Intelligence Research.
“We are looking forward to contributing to this vibrant AI community and to help push the field forward as we move towards our goal of making all Samsung connected devices intelligent by 2020.”
Hyun-suk Kim, President and Head of Samsung Research (front row, third from left), and Dr. Sven Dickinson, Head of Samsung’s new, Toronto-based AI Centre (front row, far right), pose for a photo with guests at the facility’s opening ceremony on May 24.
The key contributing factor for opening in Toronto is the city’s availability of key AI talent, including leading AI researchers at the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. The new AI Centre also enables Samsung to better collaborate with regional start-ups in the area.
Samsung AI Centre Toronto
And what better place to set up shop than MaRS Discovery, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs, that’s at the forefront of supporting promising innovators and ventures tackling key challenges in the various tech sectors.
“We are proud to welcome Samsung to MaRS,” said Yung Wu, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.
“We both recognize the important role Toronto – and Canada – play as a destination for innovation talent, research, and start-ups. We look forward to collaborating and connecting with the Samsung team on a variety of exciting opportunities as this project comes to life.”
Following the federal budget devoting $125 million to support a national AI strategy, Samsung is just one of many tech leaders to open AI facilities in Toronto.
Earlier this month, popular handmade-goods site Etsy announced it will be opening an AI centre in the coming years.
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