The Future of AI in Quebec: What We Are Building Now
Okay. We’ve talked about culture, education, regions, law, nonprofits, seniors. Now the real question: do we have a chance to build an AI future that’s ours?
What’s happening right now
In 2026, we’re at a bifurcation point. AI is finally democratizing. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — everyone has access. But we already know the American giants dominate. It’s not malicious. It’s just inertia. Capital, talent, data. Everything is centralized in the United States (and China).
Quebec? We have talent. We have brilliant people. We have a unique culture. We have specific needs. But we lack the capital to build something comparable.
It’s not insurmountable. It just requires a collective decision.
The optimistic scenario
In five years, imagine:
- A basic Quebec AI, trained on Quebec French text, available open source for free.
- Centers of excellence in universities doing AI research rooted in our realities.
- Quebec startups building AI tools for specific sectors (health, agriculture, culture, law).
- Accessible training so anyone can learn AI, not just the wealthy.
- A Quebec creative industry using AI to amplify its voice, not replace it.
- Public services using AI to improve education, health, social services.
That creates a local economy. Jobs. Innovation. And we stay independent from Silicon Valley.
The pessimistic scenario
We let the Americans lead. We use ChatGPT for free (or nearly). Our data feeds their models. Our talent emigrates to tech hubs. Our institutions use AI generated elsewhere. And in ten years, we wonder why AI “doesn’t understand our needs.”
It’s not a catastrophe. It just means we abdicated our place in the future.
What needs to happen now
Public investment. Grants for Quebec AI research. Not private sector alone. It’s too capital-intensive. We need government support like Sweden, English Canada, and France have programs.
Training. Starting in high school, we should learn AI. How it works. How to use it. How to critique it. And at university, real programs that train the next generation of Quebec AI experts.
Collaboration. Universities with startups. Governments with nonprofits. Businesses with creators. AI isn’t a solo game. It’s shared infrastructure.
Openness. Open source. Public data. Available code. Rather than proprietary silos. Quebec AI must be built together.
Why it matters
AI isn’t going away. It’s going to be the productive factor for the next 20 years. If we don’t build it, we’ll just use it. And using something means we don’t have control.
For a nation that fought hard to protect its culture, that’s a strange position to accept.
Where you fit in
Whether you’re a developer, teacher, entrepreneur, or just curious: you can help build this future. By learning. By contributing. By asking your institutions (school, government, business) to make smart choices about AI.
It’s not a project for one person. It’s a project for a community. And it starts now.
This is literally why Laeka Research exists. We believe a Quebec AI is possible. We’re building it. We do the research. We educate. And we’re calling on you.
And if you want to understand the real stakes, the concrete solutions, the questions we need to ask: visit Sherpa. It’s free. It’s in French. It’s built so we all arrive at the future on the same page.
The future, we build it together. Now.
