Age of Ingenuity for March 3rd 2020

A compilation of interesting stories covering the Canadian innovation landscape.

Stories we're covering this week include:

1. https://business.financialpost.com/technology/alphabet-still-facing-questions-over-data-use-in-its-toronto-smart-city-project-proposal - Sidewalk Labs still facing questions over data use in Toronto smart city project proposal.
Reference https://business.financialpost.com/technology/tech-giants-are-turning-their-customers-into-products-jim-balsillie-warns-gathering-on-fake-news - Tech giants are turning their customers into products in threat to democracy, warns Jim Balsillie. In prepared remarks, Balsillie says if the problem is 'left unaddressed, it will render liberal democracy and free markets obsolete.'
Second reference. As discussed, one of the central themes of Noah Hararis’ work is the impact of the rise of AI/robotics/genetic engineering on humanity. He predicts that these will bring about a 'post-human' species and the precursor to this will be the rise of a 'Useless' class:

2. Sapiens: https://www.amazon.ca/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0771038518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TMHZFH0I5PJY&keywords=yuval+noah+harari&qid=1582949647&sprefix=yuval+%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

3. https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/a-better-innovation-policy-protect-ideas-dont-subsidize-businesses - A better innovation policy: Protect ideas, don’t subsidize business. Current policies are a mess of disparate and expensive programs that dole out vast amounts of money wastefully and inefficiently,

4. Reference https://globalnews.ca/news/6451382/mastercard-cybersecurity-centre-vancouver/ - Mastercard announces half-billion-dollar cybersecurity centre for Vancouver.

5. https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bell-telus-threatening-crtc-on-investment-cuts-is-part-of-the-playbook-experts-say-200603490.html - Bell and Telus have threatened the CRTC with major investment cuts should there be regulatory changes by mandating MVNOs. Industry analysts say it’s a page from the “playbook” and carriers will adjust their businesses to please investors.