TORONTO - Alphabet Inc's urban innovation company Sidewalk Labs hopes to break ground on its first ever smart-city project in Toronto in 2020, and begin testing some of the proposed technologies this summer, its chief executive told Reuters.

This is the first time a timeline has been publicly disclosed for the project designed to increase land efficiency, cut costs and conserve energy in one of the world's priciest housing markets as development struggles to catch up with a rapidly growing population.

Waterloo - The University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada has opened its Artificial Intelligence Institute. The institute will concentrate on foundational artificial intelligence (AI) and operational AI.

Foundational AI includes research on statistical learning, deep learning, game theory and data science. This is research that advances the whole technology industry. Operational AI research develops scalable, secure and transparent solutions for a wide range of applications.

To put it simply, at least for someone coming from Silicon Valley like myself, Quebec's Tech Week (Semaine Numérique in French), which is currently underway in the capital city of the French-Canadian province, is the South by Southwest (SXSW) of the North.

Despite below-freezing temperatures, over 25,000 people from around the globe are expected to attend the third edition of the 10-days long festival for the opportunity to network and learn about new technologies (artificial intelligence, virtual reality, IoT, robotic, blockchain, cryptocurrencies...).

Taiwanese beauty technology startup Perfect Corp. has created a series of mobile applications that use augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to help users test products such as makeup.

The firm headquartered in New Taipei City says the apps have been downloaded more than 550 million times around the world since their launch in March 2014. Perfect Corp. presented its flagship at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Though no announcement has been made yet in regard to future government funding for the program, facilitators are calling the Connect2Skills industry training program a success as 90 per cent of those who graduated from the program in its pilot year are now gainfully employed with local manufacturers.

Over the course of three six-week modules held in both Stratford and Listowel – the last of which finished up on Wednesday -- 29 area residents successfully completed the program, which included four weeks of in-class job training and two weeks of paid placement with one of the five local manufacturers that partnered with the Four County Labour Market Planning Board for this endeavour.

“The Living Library: Immigration and Integration” is a project being organized in Fredericton as a two-way platform to both allow people to share their compelling stories of integration in New Brunswick, while also simultaneously letting people learn about other cultures by asking questions in a safe environment.

People will have the chance to be a “living book” or a “reader” on June 21, during the First Night of the Garrison Market, or June 23 on the second day of the 2018 Cultural Expressions Festival.

The idea of the “Living Library: Immigration and Integration” was discussed by a group who took part in a four-week workshop, Economic Immigration Lab, presented by the Pond Deshpande Centre at UNB.

On March 26, 2018, Calgary Technologies Inc. (CTI) announced the appointment of Terry Rock as president and chief executive officer. Rock is a passionate promoter of Calgary’s potential and has an extensive entrepreneurial and strategic leadership background. He brings diverse experience in consulting for high-potential technology ventures, government relations, marketing and sector development, all critical to CTI in its work to establish Calgary as a global innovation hub.

Lendlease's emerging Melbourne Quarter precinct in Melbourne's Docklands area bordering the old city grid will be given a sustainability nudge by the federal government's Clean Energy Finance Corporation through a $100 million equity investment.

While Lendlease, in its role as a developer, is pursuing the broader $2.5 billion seven-tower project, its investment arm, the Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial, also has an exposure, taking stakes in two office buildings so far.

Set to open this June in Ohio, the Smart Columbus Experience Center will offer the public an up-close look at the city's tech-centric transportation plans.

The aim is to offer the public a hands-on experience to learn more about any mystifying technology. Visitors will be able to test drive a range of electric cars in hopes that it eases any concerns they have about the technology. The center will also showcase cutting edge and sustainable technologies. According to the Columbus website, the goal is to improve people's quality of life, drive growth in the economy, provide better access to jobs, and foster sustainability.

HAMILTON, ON, March 28, 2018 /CNW/ - Leading on-demand automotive service startup, GoWrench Auto, announced today that it is now available in over 45 cities across the country. The platform, which was founded in Hamilton, Ontario, connects mechanics to customers in person, in real-time, eliminating the negative nuances that are often associated with a visit to the mechanic.

Founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Joshua Lombardo-Bottema, GoWrench aims to make automotive services more accessible for all Canadians. After successfully launching in key markets in Ontario and British Columbia, GoWrench is pleased to begin offering their services to more Canadians coast to coast.