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This article has been adapted from the podcast, Eye on AI. In 2017, China announced its goal to become the world leader in AI by 2030. The US responded by creating a commission to review America's competitive position and to advise Congress on what steps are needed to maintain US leadership in this important field. Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and former Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work were chosen from among fifteen appointed commissioners to lead the work. Earlier this month, the commission issued its first set of recommendations to Congress.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has the potential to cause harm but can it also make the world a better place? Much of the concern has to do with AI's capacity to displace vast segments of the workforce, increase unemployment and broaden the wealth divide. However, there's also a lot of excitement around the burgeoning technology's myriad possible applications for tackling issues related to education, poverty, health and climate change, to name a few. Montreal has established itself as a hub for AI research and development, but much of the work up until now has been focused on solving business challenges -- not taking on major societal or environmental problems. Xavier-Henri Hervé is executive director of the District 3 Innovation Center at Concordia.