Technology News

One of the world’s top data centre destinations has some words of wisdom for Alberta as it seeks its own AI boom. “The bill will come due if they’re not asking the right questions now,” says Juli Briskman. Briskman is a district supervisor in Loudoun County, Va., otherwise known as data centre alley. It’s a region where the data centres are numerous and – in some cases – nestled right into the daily life of residents who pass them on the way to the post office, restaurants, health centres and schools.

Google launched a checkout feature in Canada on Wednesday that lets shoppers buy items found through its Gemini chatbot or search's AI mode. The limited rollout covers Lululemon, Shoppers Drug Mart, Simons and select Shopify merchants, with more expected in the new year. Alphabet shares plunged by double-digits last Thursday, erasing roughly $500 billion US in market value after weaker-than-expected search and advertising revenue.

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced on Monday the launch of two AI programs, Mission AI and Studio AI, led by entrepreneurs Dominic Gagnon and Raff Paquin. Mission AI, run by Gagnon, will match small businesses with Canadian AI solutions, while a panel of entrepreneurs tests the tools for common challenges that can be automated. BDC cited a study finding that 30 percent of Canadian SMEs use generative AI and are 24 percent more productive than those that don't.

RBC, TD, CIBC and Scotiabank told CBC News they will block or limit third-party agents from online banking platforms. Major U.S. banks, including Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo, reportedly detected unauthorized activity by such agents on customer accounts. RBC CEO Dave McKay said in a LinkedIn post that autonomous systems raise fraud and consumer-harm risks.

BDC launched Mission AI and AI Studio in Montreal on Nov. 02, 2026, to help business owners put AI to work. Its survey found 69% of Canadian SMEs are AI Novices, while only 5% are AI Leaders. Dominic Gagnon, BDC's first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, will lead Mission AI as Managing Director.

Montréal startup Bloomsco announced on Thursday a $1-million pre-seed equity round from BDC Capital's Seed Venture Fund and Montréal-based Telegraph Ventures. Co-founder and CEO Hugh McGuire stated the funding will expand the engineering team and refine technology for classified, air-gapped environments. The company uses AI to convert technical manuals into training plans and has already secured a contract with the Department of National Defence for an officer qualification standard.