While based in Montreal since 2018, Samsung’s AI Center recently announced the opening of new premises downtown. The new lab, twice the size of the previous one, will be able to accommodate the team, which also plans to expand, whose goal is to improve the quality of wireless networks as well as develop innovative robotics technology.

Montreal is a center of expertise in AI, with Professor Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal, one of the founders of deep learning and currently director of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA), being one of its contributors. McGill University and the University of Montreal make Montreal the largest academic AI community in the world. Several large companies have set up AI labs in Montreal, such as Samsung.

The Montreal AI Center is one of seven Samsung AI centers worldwide, including the Samsung Research America Center in Silicon Valley and the AI centers in Toronto. It is one of two Samsung AI facilities in Montreal along with the SAIT AI Lab Montreal (Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology) at Mila.

Stéphane Paquet, president and CEO of Montreal International, states:

“With more than 600 independent researchers and 14,000 students enrolled in AI-related programs, the Montreal region has one of the best talent pools in the world in the sector. By investing in a new lab in downtown Montreal, Samsung recognizes the strength of our AI ecosystem, while providing advanced students with a new opportunity to advance their careers. Professor Gregory Dudek’s research in AI and robotics is recognized around the world, and we are proud to see that this research will be further advanced in Montreal.”

Samsung’s AI Center conducts research on machine learning and language understanding through multimodal interactions in collaboration with the Samsung Research America Center in Silicon Valley and the AI Centers in Toronto. He will double the number of collaborators on his team by adding 15 research scientists to apply advanced AI to telecommunications, machine learning, robotics and other multimodal interactions. Graduate students in related fields will be able to come and hone their skills in internships.

The center will be led by Gregory Dudek, a McGill professor and expert in many technologies associated with AI and robotics, who is also vice-president of research at Samsung Electronics. The researchers will also develop sensors for Samsung’s robotic systems (from domestic robots to specialized robots for the food service and cleaning industries).

Gregory Dudek states:

“The demand for data from mobile device users has never been higher. The combination of AI and machine learning technologies will enable transformations that are critical to our daily use of mobile devices and reduce energy consumption. The strong AI ecosystem and innovative talent pool in the Montreal region provide a unique environment for us to reach new heights.”

Samsung was supported by Montreal International and Investissement Québec International for this expansion project.

Hubert Bolduc, President of Investissement Québec International, states:

“By choosing to open this new lab in the Montreal region, Samsung confirms that our AI ecosystem is very attractive. Our experts, located here and in Asia, will continue to support foreign company subsidiaries to facilitate their contributions to the emergence and promotion of AI expertise, while investing in Quebec for the long term.”

Translated from Montréal : le Centre IA de Samsung emménage dans un laboratoire innovant