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Canada’s Competition Summit 2024: Competition Bureau releases details about panels and expert participants

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GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 5, 2024 /CNW/ – On September 16, 2024, the Competition Bureau will host “Canada’s Competition Summit 2024: Market Dynamics in the AI Era”. Held in Ottawa and virtually, this full-day event will bring together domestic and international competition authorities, regulators, businesses, non-governmental organizations, lawyers and academics to understand and address the economic implications of AI.

It will feature a virtual keynote speech by Lina Khan, Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

In addition to the keynote, Summit 2024 will include an introductory overview, two panels, a fireside chat, a regulators roundtable and a debate.

Talk: AI and competition 101

Joel Blit, Professor of Economics at the University of Waterloo and Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, will set the tone for the day by providing an overview of AI and its impact on the economy.

Panel 1: The AI Effect – How is AI changing the competition game?

The opening panel will explore AI’s impact on competitive dynamics in the marketplace.

Moderator:

The Honourable Colin Deacon, Independent Senator, Senate of Canada

Panelists:

Dr. Jennifer Quaid, Associate Professor, University of OttawaDr. Robert Clark, Professor, Queen’s UniversityDr. Robin Shaban, Associate Partner, Deetken InsightBenjamin Bergen, President, Council of Canadian Innovators

Fireside chat: The rise of AI – Risks for consumers

This fireside chat will focus on some of the current and potential future risks of AI for consumers.

Moderator:

Vasiliki “Vass” Bednar, Executive Director, Master of Public Policy Program at McMaster University

Speaker:

Siddharth Hiregowdara, Co-founder, CivAI

Keynote address

Lina Khan, Chairperson, Federal Trade Commission

Canadian Regulators Roundtable: A whole-of-government approach to digital markets

This roundtable will explore how competition intersects with privacy, telecommunications and cultural considerations.

Moderator:

Alexandra Posadzki, Reporter, The Globe and Mail

Participants:

Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, Competition Bureau of CanadaPhilippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of CanadaVicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications CommissionDrew Olsen, Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Copyright Board of Canada

Panel 2: International approaches to competition and AI

Panelists will discuss the role of competition authorities in their respective markets in addressing AI.

Moderator:

Ellen Creighton, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, International Affairs Directorate, Competition Bureau of Canada

Panelists:

Carlota Reyners Fontana, Director, Directorate-General for Competition, Markets and cases II: Information Technology, Communication and Media, European CommissionCarlos García Cueva, General Director of Market Intelligence, Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE)Ori Schwartz, Head of Competition Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)A representative of the United States Department of Justice

Debate: Yea or Nay – Can Big Tech be trusted with AI?

Two teams will square off to debate whether or not big tech companies can be trusted with managing the use of AI.

Moderator:

Majid Charania, Director of Compliance, Competition Bureau of Canada

Debaters:

Brianna Workman, Law Student, University of OttawaKeldon Bester, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP)Umang Khandelwal, Associate, Davies Ward Philips & Vineberg LLPMakaila Kelly, Law Student, Lincoln Alexander School of Law

Quick facts

The Competition Bureau continues its work to better understand AI, how it might affect competition, how to address its potential competitive harms, and how to promote competition in AI markets. Summit 2024 is the fifth annual summit hosted by the Bureau. The summits aim to expand the Bureau’s knowledge, hear from experts and keep the Bureau at the forefront of issues in the Canadian economy.The Bureau’s previous summits focused on:how competition considerations can be factored into policy development across all levels of Canadian government;the role of competition in the transition to a greener economy;how competitive markets can play a role in driving economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic; andbest practices and tools that can be used to enforce competition in the digital era. In March 2024, the Bureau also published a discussion paper on artificial intelligence (AI) and competition for public consultation. The consultation closed on July 7, 2024.

Related products

Canada’s Competition SummitCompetition Bureau to host summit on competition and artificial intelligence this September

Associated links

Exploring policy approaches to unlock competition (2023)The Competition and Green Growth Summit (2022)The Competition and Growth Summit (2021)Digital Enforcement Summit (2020)Artificial intelligence and competition: Discussion paper (2024)

General information:

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The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth.

SOURCE Competition Bureau

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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