6 ms·

Facebook to Open New Artificial Intelligence Lab in Montreal

88 points by kimsk112 9y ago

hellofunk 9y ago
It would seem the rumors are true, Montreal is becoming a global headquarters for the golden age of artificial intelligence.
- alexasmyths 9y ago
  Except that it has no 'headquarters' and all the important decisions, revenues, hiring, marketing, PR, taxation is happening elsewhere. Outside of 'Element AI' - which has yet to prove itself - we have a lot of work to create an actual industrial base.
  - jgmjgm 9y ago
    This is a great point. Canada has a long history of developing branch plants to the US and selling mid-sized companies rather than growing them. I mean, there are worse things. It took a long time before the country realized that inward flowing FDI was not a bad thing. On the other hand, we live in complex times and Silicon Valley companies aren't making a great reputation for themselves as trustworthy partners.
  - hellofunk 9y ago
    How is it any different than Hollywood becoming a centerpoint for making movies, even though most decisions are made in New York? At least, that was how the first several decades of Hollywood worked. And still, some studios or their executives who approve projects are headquartered actually in New York.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- kakadonton 9y ago
  How so? A remote research lab is often time, a trophy, but usually not a powerhouse. The rule of thumb is still the same, you need to get close to the center, the center of decisions, to get your ideas and plans implemented.
alexasmyths 9y ago
Go Montreal! But ... It's just another way to transfer the exceptionalism of the local talent into the shareholders of big American companies. I know a few in the AI-crew in Montreal and some local government types. What they fail to grasp is that we need 'companies' that sell 'products' and 'services' and have 'revenue' - not just a bunch of shiny R&D. A few AI jobs will actually have zero impact on the local economy. Now - if some cushy, ridiculous 'social network' were based here, it would employ thousands, and have thousands of others supporting them in other ways, they'd be paying taxes here, and forming a hub. Unfortunately, AI may not be the best hub for an industry - as plain AI doesn't generally make for good products. It's almost inherently a 'component' type technology. It's going to go into 'everything' but the best positioned to take advantage of it are those who already have leverage, i.e. Valley companies, finance etc.. Crossing my fingers for Mtl though.
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  Yes. But saying "FB's AI lab is here" is massive marketing pitch. It certainly can't hurt.
- fsavard 9y ago
  Well to me it does seem, at least, as though the recent surge in public and private AI investments (Microsoft, Google, now Facebook) would have a positive local impact for AI researchers here. I mean with enough momentum it becomes self-sustaining with positive feedback loops: researchers have multiple local opportunities, so it makes sense to stay here in Montreal long-term, companies (even though they only need AI "as a component", as you say) have strong incentives to establish AI labs here, AI grad students have local job offers and don't get told they'd better leave for better career prospects, etc. It's a bit early to conclude concerning the long-term "impact on the local economy" as you mention, but I guess it can't hurt to shine internationally in one more respect. EDIT: I'd add also that there are quite a few AI-centered startups, where AI is the forefront and not just a component, e.g. look at this: https://medium.com/@shivon/the-current-state-of-machine-intelligence-3-0-e4d305da032e https://medium.com/@shivon/the-current-state-of-machine-inte... and startups certainly contribute to the local economy. A local ecosystem around AI could foster such startups, I guess, so again not hurting.
mrmondo 9y ago
I don’t want to make a negatively geared comment just for the sake of it, however (and there’s often a however after such words) facebook and other platforms where the product is the you - the person deeply troubles me especially when said company invests heavily in data sciences that will likely be used to market products to or get more information from again - people.
oliver2u 9y ago
Montreal is a nice place in Canada. Facebook always Facebook follows Google, Microsoft.
chiefalchemist 9y ago
How much of this is FB wanting to go to Montreal? And how much of this is FB anticipating (AI) regulation in the USA?
- jamesmishra 9y ago
  Montreal is already well known to be a hotbed for excellent machine learning talent. Google already has their own Montreal AI lab, and they have also made a donation to the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA)[1]. I'm less familiar with the exact details of this, but Montreal might also be a nice place to relocate researchers that cannot get work authorization in the United States. [1]: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-snag-scarce-global-talent/ https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-s...
  - richerlariviere 9y ago
    I live in downtown montreal and I can assure it's also a great place to live. Far more cheaper than a Bay area location and it's pretty peaceful.
    - dataisfun 9y ago
      You mean except in the winter.
      - ant6n 9y ago
        Heating isn't that expensive
    - chiefalchemist 9y ago
      And while I haven't met all of them, Canadians in general are quite friendly.
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    Good / interesting point about work visas. Makes sense. Also creates some political clout in that a small team easily becomes "Look!! FB prefers Canada over the USA. We need to adjust..." You know how politicians are. Champions of hyperbole. And FB knows this ;)
j7ake 9y ago
What this does is ensure any intellectual property from Montreal talent (mostly from academia) will directly go to an American company rather than staying within Canadian labs and start ups

88 points by kimsk112 9y ago

It would seem the rumors are true, Montreal is becoming a global headquarters for the golden age of artificial intelligence.

alexasmyths 9y ago
Except that it has no 'headquarters' and all the important decisions, revenues, hiring, marketing, PR, taxation is happening elsewhere. Outside of 'Element AI' - which has yet to prove itself - we have a lot of work to create an actual industrial base.
- jgmjgm 9y ago
  This is a great point. Canada has a long history of developing branch plants to the US and selling mid-sized companies rather than growing them. I mean, there are worse things. It took a long time before the country realized that inward flowing FDI was not a bad thing. On the other hand, we live in complex times and Silicon Valley companies aren't making a great reputation for themselves as trustworthy partners.
- hellofunk 9y ago
  How is it any different than Hollywood becoming a centerpoint for making movies, even though most decisions are made in New York? At least, that was how the first several decades of Hollywood worked. And still, some studios or their executives who approve projects are headquartered actually in New York.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
kakadonton 9y ago
How so? A remote research lab is often time, a trophy, but usually not a powerhouse. The rule of thumb is still the same, you need to get close to the center, the center of decisions, to get your ideas and plans implemented.

alexasmyths 9y ago

Go Montreal! But ... It's just another way to transfer the exceptionalism of the local talent into the shareholders of big American companies. I know a few in the AI-crew in Montreal and some local government types. What they fail to grasp is that we need 'companies' that sell 'products' and 'services' and have 'revenue' - not just a bunch of shiny R&D. A few AI jobs will actually have zero impact on the local economy. Now - if some cushy, ridiculous 'social network' were based here, it would employ thousands, and have thousands of others supporting them in other ways, they'd be paying taxes here, and forming a hub. Unfortunately, AI may not be the best hub for an industry - as plain AI doesn't generally make for good products. It's almost inherently a 'component' type technology. It's going to go into 'everything' but the best positioned to take advantage of it are those who already have leverage, i.e. Valley companies, finance etc.. Crossing my fingers for Mtl though.

chiefalchemist 9y ago
Yes. But saying "FB's AI lab is here" is massive marketing pitch. It certainly can't hurt.
fsavard 9y ago
Well to me it does seem, at least, as though the recent surge in public and private AI investments (Microsoft, Google, now Facebook) would have a positive local impact for AI researchers here. I mean with enough momentum it becomes self-sustaining with positive feedback loops: researchers have multiple local opportunities, so it makes sense to stay here in Montreal long-term, companies (even though they only need AI "as a component", as you say) have strong incentives to establish AI labs here, AI grad students have local job offers and don't get told they'd better leave for better career prospects, etc. It's a bit early to conclude concerning the long-term "impact on the local economy" as you mention, but I guess it can't hurt to shine internationally in one more respect. EDIT: I'd add also that there are quite a few AI-centered startups, where AI is the forefront and not just a component, e.g. look at this: https://medium.com/@shivon/the-current-state-of-machine-intelligence-3-0-e4d305da032e https://medium.com/@shivon/the-current-state-of-machine-inte... and startups certainly contribute to the local economy. A local ecosystem around AI could foster such startups, I guess, so again not hurting.

mrmondo 9y ago

I don’t want to make a negatively geared comment just for the sake of it, however (and there’s often a however after such words) facebook and other platforms where the product is the you - the person deeply troubles me especially when said company invests heavily in data sciences that will likely be used to market products to or get more information from again - people.

oliver2u 9y ago

Montreal is a nice place in Canada. Facebook always Facebook follows Google, Microsoft.

chiefalchemist 9y ago

How much of this is FB wanting to go to Montreal? And how much of this is FB anticipating (AI) regulation in the USA?

jamesmishra 9y ago
Montreal is already well known to be a hotbed for excellent machine learning talent. Google already has their own Montreal AI lab, and they have also made a donation to the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA)[1]. I'm less familiar with the exact details of this, but Montreal might also be a nice place to relocate researchers that cannot get work authorization in the United States. [1]: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-snag-scarce-global-talent/ https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-s...
- richerlariviere 9y ago
  I live in downtown montreal and I can assure it's also a great place to live. Far more cheaper than a Bay area location and it's pretty peaceful.
  - dataisfun 9y ago
    You mean except in the winter.
    - ant6n 9y ago
      Heating isn't that expensive
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    And while I haven't met all of them, Canadians in general are quite friendly.
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  Good / interesting point about work visas. Makes sense. Also creates some political clout in that a small team easily becomes "Look!! FB prefers Canada over the USA. We need to adjust..." You know how politicians are. Champions of hyperbole. And FB knows this ;)

j7ake 9y ago

What this does is ensure any intellectual property from Montreal talent (mostly from academia) will directly go to an American company rather than staying within Canadian labs and start ups