EDMONTON — January 2023 marked a pivotal moment for Alex Kearney, a research scientist at DeepMind Alberta, as she received the shocking news of massive layoffs at Google right on the day of her doctoral defense. Just hours after celebrating a significant academic milestone, she learned that DeepMind’s first international office in Alberta was shutting down.

DeepMind had initially set the province on the AI map when it opened its doors in 2017, sparking excitement among students and researchers passionate about reinforcement learning—a branch of AI that learns through trial and error. Its closure was seen as a devastating blow to Alberta's ambitions in the AI sector.

Yet, fast-forward two and a half years, and Edmonton's AI landscape has transformed remarkably. Researchers who remained after DeepMind's exit are thriving, pushing the boundaries of reinforcement learning at the University of Alberta and beyond. Others have ventured into entrepreneurship, like Kearney, who co-founded Artificial Agency, which aims to revolutionize game development using AI.

Richard Sutton, a key figure in Alberta’s AI community, foresaw this resilience. After DeepMind’s departure, he stated, We are freed up to make new things. What unfolded was a revitalized ecosystem, with former team members channeling their expertise into groundbreaking innovations.

The Rise of AI in Edmonton: A Journey Through Challenges and Opportunities

Throughout the 2000s, Edmonton emerged as a hub for deep learning and AI, attracting talent overcoming earlier skepticism surrounding reinforcement learning. The University of Alberta became a focal point for this emerging technology, setting the stage for DeepMind’s entrance and validating the province's capabilities.

Even after DeepMind left, the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) continued to soar, being named one of the key players in Canada’s $125 million Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, attracting interest from global firms eager to tap into local talent.

A New Dawn for AI Entrepreneurs

Following the closure, a wave of innovation swept through the city. AI fund Flying Fish Ventures offered support to former DeepMind staff contemplating new ventures, paving the way for startups that would emerge from the ashes of DeepMind Alberta.

As generative AI began to captivate the tech world, Kearney chose to embrace the wave, invigorating her entrepreneurial spirit. She, alongside Tanner and other ex-colleagues, founded Artificial Agency, aiming to leverage AI to enhance game development, ensuring that complex interactions feel natural and engaging.

Edmonton's AI Ecosystem: Thriving Against All Odds

Today, the AI scene in Edmonton is vibrant. Opportunities abound as former DeepMind talent seizes the moment, launching ventures like RL Core Technologies, which focuses on automating industrial processes through reinforcement learning.

The city's tech community now boasts an exhilarating momentum. Students are increasingly viewing entrepreneurship as a viable career, and capital is flowing into AI projects, ensuring that Edmonton remains at the forefront of AI innovation.

With Sutton leading efforts to guide artificial intelligence into a new era of learning and adaptability, Edmonton's ecosystem is poised for greatness. As Sutton states, There’s nothing holding us back except our imagination and our will. This underdog city is rewriting its narrative, from upheaval to unparalleled opportunities in the world of AI.