By Adam Berls

AI

IREN hopes to expand PG operation, as use of AI expands

May 16, 2024 | 3:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is investing heavily in artificial intelligence or AI, with a $2.4 billion package announced as a part of the 2024 budget. One company involved with AI, is IREN, formerly known as Iris Energy, is working right here in Prince George and wants to be a part of the continued growth of AI.

IREN is a infrastructure company that builds next generation data centres for high-performance computing, including AI.

Currently IREN’s operation in Prince George, employs 25 people, but they are hoping to expand and grow their operation here, as the use of AI expands.

“As we grow the AI and the HPC (high-performance computing) business, we’re looking to hire a lot more employees to support the customers. AI is a customer driven business. The customers are highly correlated with the number of employees we hire. So we’re really looking forward to growing that part of our business alongside that government grant over the next number of years.” – Glenn Harrison, Vice President, Operations-Canada, IREN

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Measures included in the federal government’s $2.4 billion dollar package include:

• Investing $2 billion to build and provide access to computing capabilities and technological infrastructure for Canada’s world-leading AI researchers, start-ups, and scale-ups.
• Boosting AI start-ups to bring new technologies to market, and accelerating AI adoption in critical sectors, such as agriculture, clean technology, health care, and manufacturing, with $200 million in support through Canada’s Regional Development Agencies.
• Investing $100 million in the NRC IRAP AI Assist Program to help small and medium-sized businesses scale up and increase productivity by building and deploying new AI solutions.
• Supporting workers who may be impacted by AI, such as creative industries
• Creating a new Canadian AI Safety Institute, with $50 million to further the safe development and deployment of AI.
• Strengthening enforcement of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act

The government said that these measures “will create good-paying opportunities for every generation, boost innovation across the economy, raise productivity, and accelerate economic growth.”

IREN also has a facilities in Mackenzie, B.C., Canal Flats, B.C., as well as in Childress, Texas.

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com