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Our mission is to empower British Columbia’s AI ecosystem through community‑building, education, and advocacy. We help public institutions, businesses, and community leaders gain the knowledge, skills, and partnerships they need to navigate emerging technologies—so AI in BC is ethical, inclusive, and sustainable.
By 2030, BC is recognised worldwide as a hub for applied‑AI excellence—not just for breakthroughs, but for a collaborative culture that prizes diversity, creativity, and the public good. BCAI is the heartbeat of that culture: a place where a newcomer’s idea finds support, where industry and academia co‑solve societal challenges, and where “AI for good” is lived daily.
Monthly AI meet‑ups in 2024 attracted everyone from students to CEOs—proving AI could be a conversational catalyst across disciplines. Voices like Kris Krüg rallied the call for a community‑driven organisation. On 6 May 2025 we launched as Canada’s first grassroots, community‑powered AI industry association. From demos in planetariums to ethics roundtables with policymakers, our journey is just beginning—and it runs on member passion.
| Value | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Community‑First | Success = collective uplift. DIY beats gatekeepers. |
| Creative‑Tech Focus | Code meets choreography; failure composts future growth. |
| Indigenous‑Honouring | Operate on unceded territories; respect data sovereignty & reconciliation. |
| Decentralised | Chapters across BC + member‑led working groups. |
| Future‑Facing | Prepare BC for next‑gen AI trends & challenges. |
| Ethics by Default | Honest talk on bias, privacy, climate impact—solutions together. |
| Inclusivity | Zero gatekeeping; under‑represented voices centred. |
| Transparency | Publish budgets, decisions, metrics. |
| Reciprocity | Give back equal or greater value to communities we learn from. |
| Sustainability | Optimise for long‑term ecological & social health. |
| Courage | Speak uncomfortable truths while building AI’s promise. |