Has artificial intelligence truly made software platforms smarter? What results is it driving for Canada’s SaaS companies? And, most importantly, can it be trusted? 

These are just some of the questions next month’s SAAS NORTH 2024 will tackle head-on.

This year, SAAS NORTH will focus on how AI is working for businesses in real life, not just on paper. 

On November 13 and 14 at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre, Canada’s SaaS founders, investors, and teams will gather under one roof to dig into what’s shaping the future of the country’s software sector. BetaKit is proud to return as a SAAS NORTH media partner, and many of this year’s highly anticipated conversations will take place on the BetaKit Keynote Stage.

This year, the focus is on how AI is working for businesses in real life, not just on paper.  Attendees can expect to hear from Canada’s AI leaders through a curated collection of fireside conversations, in-depth breakouts, and tactical panel discussions. 

Among the standout sessions is a fireside conversation featuring Stephany Lapierre, founder and CEO of TealBook, and National Bank’s Danielle Smith, who will speak candidly on the BetaKit Keynote Stage about how generative AI is changing how businesses make decisions. Expect practical examples demonstrating how AI is helping teams work better together and make smarter calls, faster. 

Candice Faktor of Disco will also join Startup Canada’s Kayla Isabelle for an engaging one-on-one discussion about how AI is shaping how companies educate their customers, boost product usage, and keep users happy. Faktor will share concrete ways AI can build stronger customer communities by curating content and automating tasks, with real-world advice for SaaS founders on how to measure what’s working.

AI might be driving results for SaaS companies, but trust in the technology is still playing catch-up. SAAS NORTH will bring together Canadian SaaS leaders and investors, including Xero’s Muhammed Anwar, Pender Ventures’ Isaac Souweine, PwC Canada’s Brenda Vethanayagam, and NuEnergy.ai’s Niraj Bhargava, for a panel discussion focused on how to build genuine trust in AI and make sure these systems deliver.

Trust is only part of the equation. As AI evolves, so do the risks. From phishing scams to deepfakes, companies need to stay ahead of emerging threats. A cybersecurity roundtable featuring Inovia Capital’s Etienne Gauthier, Klavan Security’s Andrew Amaro, Skadi Cyber Defense’s Rachel Clark, and SupportMyMac’s Sam Arseneau will break down the latest strategies to keep software systems secure in the AI era.

Beyond the main sessions, SAAS NORTH will also offer exclusive events for those looking to dig deeper into AI. At the RBCx Investor Breakfast, L-SPARK’s Leo Lax, JMI’s Dina Berdichevsky, and RBCx Capital’s John Rikhtegar will debate whether AI is just a passing fad or a true disruptor. Meanwhile, at the BDC Executive Luncheon, Arash Mahin of Aero Hygenx will discuss how AI-driven robotics can make a real difference in healthcare.

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AI may be a hot topic at SAAS NORTH 2024, but attendees can expect a wide range of discussions on the stories and trends shaping Canada’s SaaS landscape. Check out the full conference agenda here.

If you’re late to securing your spot, BetaKit still has your hookup. You can save 25 percent on your tickets to SAAS NORTH 2024 by using the code BETAKITSN24 at checkout. We’ll see you there!

All photos provided by Cube Business Media Inc.

Google is turning to nuclear energy to help power its AI drive. On Monday, the company said it will partner with the startup Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors in the US. The deal targets adding 500 megawatts of nuclear power from the small modular reactors (SMRs) by the decade’s end. The first is expected to be up and running by 2030, with the remainder arriving through 2035.

It’s the first-ever corporate deal to buy nuclear power from SMRs. Small modular reactors are smaller than existing reactors. Their components are built inside a factory rather than on-site, which can help lower construction costs compared to full-scale plants.

Kairos will need the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to approve design and construction permits for the plans. The startup has already received approval for a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, with an online date targeted for 2027. The company already builds test units (without nuclear-fuel components) at a development facility in Albuquerque, NM, where it assesses components, systems and its supply chain.

The companies didn’t announce the financial details of the arrangement. Google says the deal’s structure will help to keep costs down and get the energy online sooner.

“By procuring electricity from multiple reactors — what experts call an ‘orderbook’ of reactors — we will help accelerate the repeated reactor deployments that are needed to lower costs and bring Kairos Power’s technology to market more quickly,” Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, wrote in a blog post. “This is an important part of our approach to scale the benefits of advanced technologies to more people and communities, and builds on our previous efforts.”

The AI boom — and the enormous amount of data center power it requires — has led to several deals between Big Tech companies and the nuclear industry. In September, Microsoft forged an agreement with Constellation Energy to bring a unit of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania back online. In March, Amazon bought a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy.

The RBI Governor that the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in financial services globally can lead to financial stability risks and warrants adequate risk mitigation practices
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The growing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in financial services globally can lead to financial stability risks and warrants adequate risk mitigation practices by banks, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India said on Monday (October 14, 2024).

“The heavy reliance of AI can lead to concentration risks, especially when a small number of technology providers dominate the market,” Shaktikanta Das said at an event in New Delhi.

This could amplify systemic risks as failures or disruptions in these systems may cascade across the financial sector, Mr. Das added.

Indian banks are using AI to enhance customer experience, reduce costs, manage risks and drive growth through chatbots and personalised banking.

The growing use of AI introduces new vulnerabilities like increased susceptibility to cyber attacks and data breaches, Mr. Das said.

AI’s “opacity” makes it difficult to audit and interpret algorithms which drive lender’s decisions and could potentially lead to “unpredictable consequences in the market,” he warned.

Separately, Mr. Das said private credit markets have expanded rapidly across the globe with limited regulation, posing significant risks to financial stability, particularly since these markets have not been stress-tested in a downturn.

If you watched that Star Trek episode about the tribbles and thought, I need one of those in my life (minus the rapid reproduction problem), Casio’s got just the thing for you. The company is now taking pre-orders in Japan for Moflin, the adorable robotic plushie with AI “emotional capabilities” that debuted during CES 2021. Moflin, developed in a partnership with the Japanese startup Vanguard Industries, is meant to work like an emotional support pet — snuggling is its specialty, and the creators say each robot has its own distinct personality, can shift moods depending on the situation and will form attachments to people over time.

It’s available in gray and blonde for a hefty ￥59,400 (roughly $400), and is expected to ship on November 7. There’s no word on a release outside of Japan.

Moflin doesn’t just respond to cuddles. You’re supposed to talk to it, too, and it’ll react with movements and cute sounds. These interactions will help shape its character. “Moflin has the ability to learn and its personality will develop based on how it is treated,” said Vanguard founder Masahiko Yamanaka in a promotional video. It’s Bluetooth capable so it can connect with an app, and charges in a little nest so as to avoid breaking the illusion of it being a real pet. When it’s charging, it’ll just go to sleep. The fur is removable for when you need to wash it, though.

Vanguard ran successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns for Moflin in 2020 but only started shipping the robots to backers in late 2023. Casio is now handling the manufacturing and distribution.