Alberta’s AI legacy runs deep
Alberta has long been a cradle for artificial intelligence research, with the University of Alberta and regional labs contributing to global progress in machine learning and reinforcement learning. For more than a quarter century the region has nurtured ideas that ripple across academia and industry. As Elevate Festival begins on Oct 7, that legacy intersects with a new generation of founders who are turning theory into practice.
From DeepMind to a startup founder
Alex Kearney, a researcher with ties to DeepMind, Twitter, and the University of Alberta, sits at the center of Elevate’s conversations. She co-founded Artificial Agency to build an AI powered behavior engine for video games. The goal is to provide game designers with tools to create entirely new genres and experiences, rather than just automate tasks. The transition from academia to entrepreneurship is challenging in both mindset and scope, but the reward is tangible when designers light up at what the tools can enable.
The behavior engine for gaming
The project aims to let developers craft living virtual worlds where intelligent agents respond in complex, humanlike ways. By combining reinforcement learning, natural language interfaces, and domain specific modeling, the engine aspires to shorten production cycles and expand creative possibilities for indie studios and major publishers alike.
Why gaming as a testing ground for AI matters
Gaming has long been a proving ground for AI agents and learning. From Atari to more complex titles like StarCraft, researchers have used games to demonstrate competence, strategy, and adaptability. For Kearney, games are also a universal language that helps the public grasp what intelligent systems can do. By designing experiences that people can interact with in their own language, she believes we can reveal the practical potential of AI inside a systemized environment.
Elevate Festival and Alberta’s ecosystem
Elevate provides a stage where Alberta’s AI legacy meets global trends. The festival features sessions with policy leaders from Cohere and OpenAI, as well as researchers from Meta and Spotify, underscoring how machine learning intersects with policy, product, and creative industries. Kearney notes that Alberta has a proud past and a pragmatic present, with universities and startups investing in the skills and research that will attract talent back to Canada rather than pulling it elsewhere.
Canada wide context: opportunities and challenges
Canada presents a can-do culture in AI that blends ambition with humility. While not as loud as some international hubs, Alberta’s ecosystem fosters careful planning and collaboration among researchers, funders, and policymakers. Events like Elevate help counter brain drain by highlighting success stories and connecting founders with capital, mentorship, and peers who share a Canadian vision.
Looking ahead
As Alberta continues to nurture its AI roots, the next generation of founders will rely on gatherings that celebrate wins and showcase new tools. By sustaining investment in research, sector partnerships, and thoughtful policy, the province can remain a magnet for innovation without losing the careful, inclusive approach that defines its AI community.
