Connect with us

Technology

Eight organizations to join Canada’s voluntary AI code of conduct

Published

on

More organizations including Mastercard, Salesforce and Lenovo commit to the responsible development and management of advanced generative artificial intelligence systems

OTTAWA, ON, May 27, 2024 /CNW/ – Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are benefiting society in many ways, including in improving supply chain management, enhancing health care and precision medicine, and helping tackle environmental sustainability challenges. These advances, however, have also reaffirmed the urgency of ensuring that AI systems, particularly advanced generative AI systems, are developed and managed safely.

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced that eight more organizations have undertaken a voluntary commitment in support of the ongoing development of a robust, responsible AI ecosystem in Canada. The new signatories to the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems are:

AlloprofKyndrylLenovoLevioMaRS Discovery DistrictMastercardOrganisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ)Salesforce

In signing on to the voluntary code, these organizations are pledging to apply the code to their operations when developing and managing advanced generative AI systems. They are joining the 22 other signatories that have committed to supporting the ongoing development of a robust, responsible AI ecosystem in Canada. In addition, Canada continues to engage in domestic and international discussions supporting the creation of common standards and safeguards for generative AI systems.

The code is based on the input received from a cross-section of stakeholders through these engagements and through the consultation on the development of a Canadian code of practice for generative AI systems. The government has published a summary of feedback received during the consultation.

The government continues to take a leadership role in AI, committing $2.4 billion in Budget 2024 to help secure Canada’s AI advantage. Measures include investing in compute capacity and infrastructure, accelerating responsible and safe AI adoption and deployment, and supporting workers through skills training.

Quotes

“Artificial intelligence is one of the greatest technological transformations of our age, and our government is committed to providing Canadians and Canadian businesses with the tools they need to thrive in this digital era. In undertaking the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems, leading Canadian organizations continue to adopt responsible measures for advanced generative AI systems that will help build safety and trust well into the future as the technology grows.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Generative AI and traditional AI will unlock profound opportunities to enable solutions that benefit everyone. But, for this innovation to be sustainable and inclusive, people will need to trust it. And that starts with foundational practices that respect and protect individual rights and communities. At Mastercard, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of data and tech responsibility, and we believe Canada’s voluntary generative AI code of conduct is an important step forward in creating a unified framework for responsible data-driven innovation.”
Sasha Krstic, President, Mastercard, Canada

“We’ve seen how exploring and using artificial intelligence as a tool to support the real estate brokerage regulatory framework and its unique mission of protecting the public is paying off. In addition, our approach is helping to unleash the full potential of our employees by automating routine tasks. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s initiative in creating a code of conduct on artificial intelligence, to which the OACIQ adheres, demonstrates the importance of adopting an ethical approach in this field of innovation.”
– Nadine Lindsay, LL.B., ASC, C.Dir., Mediator, President and Chief Executive Officer, Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec

“The Government of Canada’s Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems is a significant step forward for the entire AI community and a strong commitment to AI stewardship. At MaRS, we are dedicated to upholding these standards to cultivate an ecosystem where innovation flourishes ethically and responsibly, ensuring that Canada continues to lead in safe and impactful AI advancements.”
–Alison Nankivell, Chief Executive Officer at MaRS Discovery District

“AI has the potential to enhance productivity and reshape entire industries for the benefit of humanity. Building that future will take a partnership between regulators, businesses, and civil society. We’re proud to sign Canada’s voluntary generative AI code of conduct as we collectively work towards instilling trust in the technology.”
–Eric Leob, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs at Salesforce

Quick facts

The Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems was launched in 2023.The Government of Canada has already taken significant steps toward ensuring that AI technology evolves responsibly and safely through the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), which was introduced in June 2022 as part of Bill C-27, also known as the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022.AIDA is designed to promote the responsible design, development and use of AI systems in Canada’s private sector, with a focus on systems with the greatest impact on health, safety and human rights (high-impact systems).Since the introduction of Bill C-27, the government has engaged extensively with stakeholders on AIDA and will continue to seek the advice of Canadians, experts—including the government’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence—and international partners on the novel challenges posed by emerging AI technologies.Bill C-27 was adopted at second reading in the House of Commons in April 2023 and is currently being studied by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology.

Associated links

Securing Canada’s AI advantageConsultation on the development of a Canadian code of practice for generative artificial intelligence systemsMinister Champagne launches voluntary code of conduct relating to advanced generative AI systemsVoluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI SystemsNew laws to strengthen Canadians’ privacy protection and trust in the digital economyCanada’s Digital Charter and Bill C-27: Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022Artificial Intelligence and Data ActAdvisory Council on Artificial Intelligence

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.
X (Twitter): @ISED_CA | Facebook: Canadian Innovation | Instagram: @cdninnovation | LinkedIn: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

EcoFlow Reveals OCEAN 2 at Solar & Storage Live London 2026 as Demand Grows for Smarter, Scalable Home Energy

Published

on

By

Top lines:

Next-generation EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase system unveiled, designed for a new era of scalable, whole-home energy, supporting up to 12kw AC outputStorage capacity expandable up to 300 kWh, with 10,000 cell-cycle battery lifespanEngineered for faster installation and lower ongoing energy lossAdvanced solar optimisation with triple MPPT architecture for complex UK rooftopsExclusive preview of upcoming OCEAN 2 products and EcoFlow STREAM technology at the event

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EcoFlow is set to unveil OCEAN 2 Plus, its next-generation home battery system, at Solar & Storage Live London 2026, taking place at ExCeL London from 29–30 April.

Positioned at the intersection of performance, scalability and intelligent energy management, OCEAN 2 represents a significant step forward for residential energy systems in the UK – designed not just to meet today’s demand, but to evolve alongside it. As the market shifts towards more flexible, decentralised energy models, EcoFlow is delivering systems that scale from everyday households through to high-demand, fully electrified homes.

At the event, EcoFlow will also offer attendees an exclusive first look at upcoming additions to the OCEAN 2 series, alongside a showcase of its STREAM technology, reflecting growing momentum behind small-scale and emerging solar solutions in the UK.

EcoFlow OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been designed with long-term flexibility at its core. A single system can start small and expand over time, supporting up to 300 kWh of storage capacity when configured in parallel. This enables the system to move beyond traditional residential use cases, supporting larger homes with electric vehicles, heat pumps, and increasing electrification demands. With a 10,000-cycle battery lifespan, the system is built to deliver consistent performance and savings over many years of operation.

Performance has also been optimised for real-world UK conditions. With three independent MPPTs, OCEAN 2 is able to maximise solar generation across rooftops with multiple orientations or partial shading, ensuring more consistent energy capture throughout the day. Each string supports high input capacity, enabling installers to design more efficient, higher-yield systems without compromise.

Efficiency extends beyond generation. OCEAN 2 has been engineered to minimise its own energy consumption, operating at just 50W during light-load discharge. While often overlooked, this reduction in baseline energy use contributes to meaningful long-term savings, with estimated lifetime energy savings reaching up to 6,000 kWh over a 15-year period.

Installation has been streamlined throughout. With a compact form factor, integrated components and reduced on-site complexity, OCEAN 2 is designed to save time at every stage, from handling and positioning through to commissioning. At 46kg per battery pack, and with support for both indoor and outdoor installation, the system provides practical flexibility for installers working across a wide range of property types.

Whole-home backup functionality is built in as standard, with seamless switching designed to maintain power continuity across essential systems. This is complemented by a multi-layered safety architecture, combining both passive and active protection mechanisms across the battery system, alongside a 15-year warranty designed to support long-term peace of mind.

At the system level, OCEAN 2 integrates into EcoFlow’s wider Home Energy Ecosystem, connecting solar generation, storage, and smart home technologies into a single intelligent platform. Through its Home Energy Management System, the system can automatically optimise when to store and use energy based on demand and dynamic electricity tariffs, helping households reduce reliance on the grid while improving overall energy efficiency.

Craig Bilboe, Head of Residential UK&ANZ for EcoFlow said:

“UK homes are changing quickly. We’re seeing more electric vehicles, more heat pumps, and more people wanting to use their own solar more effectively. OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase has been built for that reality. It gives installers a system that’s quicker to work with, and gives households the ability to store more, use more, and expand over time without replacing what they already have. Alongside that, technologies like STREAM are opening the door for people who want to start smaller, making solar more accessible in a way we haven’t really seen in the UK before.”

Visitors to the EcoFlow stand will be able to experience live demonstrations of OCEAN 2 Plus Single-Phase, explore upcoming product developments, and speak directly with EcoFlow’s technical and commercial teams.

To register or learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/g6RxBPmB

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2966057/EcoFlow.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ecoflow-reveals-ocean-2-at-solar–storage-live-london-2026-as-demand-grows-for-smarter-scalable-home-energy-302754188.html

Continue Reading

Technology

XTM International Appoints New CMO and VP of Engineering to Accelerate AI-Driven Growth

Published

on

By

Niki Sotiropoulou joins as Chief Marketing Officer and Sean Mooney as Vice President of Engineering, reinforcing XTM’s commitment to AI-driven product innovation and global enterprise growth.

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XTM International, a global leader in AI-driven localisation technology, today announced two strategic additions to its executive leadership team. Niki Sotiropoulou has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Sean Mooney joins as Vice President of Engineering, leading engineering execution across XTM’s expanded product portfolio.

“Adding leaders of Niki’s and Sean’s calibre is a clear signal of XTM’s ambitions for the next phase of growth,” said Lorcan Malone, Chief Executive Officer of XTM International. “Niki brings the strategic marketing leadership to amplify the value our platform delivers to enterprise customers, while Sean brings the engineering depth to accelerate how quickly we ship that innovation. Together, they will help us extend our lead in AI-driven localisation.”

Niki Sotiropoulou — Chief Marketing Officer

Niki Sotiropoulou is a marketing leader focused on the intersection of AI, data and enterprise growth. Across more than two decades in both B2B and B2C, including pivotal roles at market-leading companies such as viva.com and eSHARE, she has built a reputation for aligning marketing strategy with overarching business objectives, and for using data and modern marketing technology to deliver measurable commercial impact. Her contribution to the field has been recognised through her inclusion among the industry’s top marketing influencers.

As CMO, Niki will lead XTM’s global marketing organisation, embedding AI and data across brand strategy, demand generation and customer-facing communications as the company delivers on its composable, AI platform mission.

“Marketing is most effective when it is grounded in data and amplified by AI,” said Sotiropoulou. “XTM is doing genuinely category-defining work in AI-driven globalisation platform, and my focus is on bringing the same rigour to how we tell that story, by building a marketing organisation that is data-driven, AI-augmented, and clearly tied to the outcomes our customers care about.”

Sean Mooney — Vice President of Engineering

Sean Mooney is a highly experienced technology leader specialising in cloud, connected services, technical architecture, systems integration and product modernisation. He brings 25 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering complex, concurrent strategic programmes on time, on budget and to specification. Sean will lead engineering execution across XTM’s R&D function, including development, QA, support and architecture teams in Ireland and across XTM’s global hubs.

“Great products are built by great teams,” said Mooney. “XTM has a clear AI-driven product vision, an exceptional engineering culture, and a customer base that depends on us to deliver. My role is to make sure our R&D organisation operates at the standard our customers expect : combining engineering excellence, modern architecture and a culture of continuous improvement so we can ship innovation at the pace this market demands.”

About XTM International

XTM International is your AI globalisation platform that transforms language from a barrier into an opportunity. We bring translation management, business management, software localisation, and video creation together into a composable system, giving enterprises the flexibility to adopt the solutions they need, when they need them. Trusted by over 1,300 global companies, supporting more than 880 languages and over 80 ready-to-go integrations, XTM enables teams to scale global content with accuracy, speed, and absolute trust.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2966641/XTM_International_New_CMO_and_VP_of_Engineering.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2680664/5939325/XTM_International_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xtm-international-appoints-new-cmo-and-vp-of-engineering-to-accelerate-ai-driven-growth-302754951.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Loftie Launches Loftie+ Habit System to Help People Put Their Phones Down

Published

on

By

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Loftie, maker of the award-winning alarm clock that replaces the smartphone on the nightstand, today launches Loftie+ — a behaviour-change system built to change habits, not track data.

Over half of UK and Irish adults stay up later than planned because of their phones — rising to 73% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK (Deloitte, 2024). The sleep industry’s answer: sell people a tracker and a score.

“The sleep industry is obsessed with measurement,” said Matt Hassett, founder and CEO of Loftie. “People are staring at a dozen numbers every morning trying to figure out why they feel terrible — while the phone that’s wrecking their sleep is the same device giving them the score. We’re not interested in adding more data. We’re interested in helping you put the phone down.”

Loftie+ is a mobile app (£9.99/€9.99 monthly or £59.99/€59.99 yearly) that works on its own — no Loftie hardware required. It combines nightly app blocking, daytime focus tools, and screen-time challenges, plus a credit card-sized Loftie Card for your wallet and a free browser extension.

At night: the app schedules blocking around sleep in three phases — Relax, Sleep, and Rise — guiding users from wind-down to wake-up with minimal phone interference.

During the day: the Loftie Card triggers Focus mode with a single tap — at your desk, before a meeting, when the kids get home. Unlike screen-time apps that stay on a shelf at home, the Card lives in your wallet, with you wherever you need to focus.

A free home screen widget, Flip, replaces your phone’s app grid with just the apps you choose — no icons, no distractions.

Loftie+ builds on a platform serving over 15,000 members across curated audio, personalised bedtime stories, and wind-down routines. For Loftie hardware owners, an optional feature called Loftie Drift blocks selected apps automatically when you enter the bedroom, using Bluetooth from your Clock or Lamp.

Loftie+ is available now on iOS and Android across the UK and EU. The browser extension and Flip are free.

About Loftie

Loftie is a sleep wellness brand designing products that help people put their phones down — for deeper sleep at night and better focus by day. The line includes the Loftie Clock, Loftie Lamp, and Loftie+. The Loftie Clock has been named a TIME Best Invention, recommended by Wirecutter five years running, and is carried at MoMA Design Store, Goop, and URBN.

Website: loftie.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2963308/LOFTIE_Logo.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2963309/Loftie__includes_a_Loftie_Card.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/loftie-launches-loftie-habit-system-to-help-people-put-their-phones-down-302753395.html

Continue Reading

Trending