Vancouver-based Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation with a mission to create the world’s first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots has received a $30 million SIF (Strategic Innovation Fund) Contribution. With this, Sanctuary has now received more than $100 million in funding.
Contribution from Government of Canada
The contribution came from the Government of Canada, specifically through SIF, which supports large scale, transformative and collaborative projects that help position Canada to prosper in the global knowledge-based economy. SIF projects promote the long-term competitiveness of Canadian industries, clean growth, and the advancement of Canada’s strategic technological advantage.
Sanctuary Cognitive Systems will use the fund to advance its technology and address labour-related challenges in the economy.
“Many labor-related challenges are outside the scope of current specialised AI and robotics technology,” said Geordie Rose, Co-Founder and CEO of Sanctuary. “We appreciate the contribution from the Government of Canada and we are working hard to make work safer, more accessible, and ultimately more productive.”
“As a leading digital nation, Canada is taking ambitious steps to harness the potential of artificial intelligence. By investing in companies like Sanctuary, we are leveraging Canadian expertise in AI to develop and commercialize innovative technologies. This initiative will help maximise the economic potential of AI for Canadians and further cement our AI leadership on the global stage, said The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry – Government of Canada.
Human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots
Sanctuary Cognitive Systems was established by Geordie Rose, Suzanne Gildert, Olivia Norton, and Ajay Agrawal in 2018. It aims to be a safe place for those with a shared passion in AI and robotics to gather and work collaboratively on perhaps the most complex technical challenge in front of humankind. Its mission is to build a human-like brain and system that’s capable of executing human-like tasks in a safe way.
Eventually, Sanctuary is building human-like intelligence to power general-purpose robots that can help people overcome an endless number of challenges. Leveraging its unique heritage and breakthrough technology in AI, cognition, and robotics, Sanctuary will improve the quality of the work experience, assist humans with difficult or dangerous tasks, create new jobs, bring new opportunities to those who might be less capable of physical work, and reduce the impact of labour shortages both in Canada and around the world.
Sanctuary general-purpose robots are remotely piloted or supervised by people and will train and work alongside them. From robot pilots to supervisors operating robots in a wide range of physical environments, to people working with Sanctuary technology in simulation to help teach and train the cognitive platform so it too can also pilot the general-purpose robots, there are many new jobs for people that will be created that do not exist today.
