Canadian governments should regulate AI, 85% of Canadians say: poll

AI is being used by more and more Canadians, but while many say they're comfortable using it, a majority say governments need to regulate it for safety.

As artificial intelligence continues to grow in use across Canada, a majority of Canadians say they want to see governments at all levels regulate AI to ensure it’s used ethically and safely.

In a new poll conducted by Leger, 85 per cent of Canadians surveyed say AI tools should be regulated.

The poll, which surveyed 1,518 people online between Aug. 22 and 25, found that of the 85 per cent who wanted regulation, 57 per cent were strongly in favour.

But while many want regulation, the basis for that decision appears to vary, with the poll finding 34 per cent of Canadians saying they think AI is good for society, while 36 per cent believe it’s harmful. Another approximately 31 per cent say they’re unsure.

“We know that public opinion around different types of AI vary on terms of how much we trust AI or how concerned we are with it,” said Jennifer McLeod Macey, senior vice-president of public affairs at Leger. “It won’t be a one-size-fits-all, it’s really quite nuanced.”

AI has continued to spread across various professions, being used in classrooms, health-care facilities and governments.

A majority of Canadians say that the presence of AI in their workplaces has been helpful.

Polling conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs found 56 per cent of Canadians who currently use AI say it’s enhancing their productivity at work, with 69 per cent of Gen Z individuals saying the technology provides a boost. However, the numbers decrease to 50 per cent for Gen X and 38 per cent for Baby Boomers.