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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

 

Apple Begins Beta Testing ‘Intelligence’ Suite in Canada

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Apple Intelligence became available through beta for the first time last month and now the tech titan’s emerging suite of AI offerings is beginning to appear in Canada. The toolkit of AI-powered features is slated to enhance everything from writing and design to smarter notifications—including Siri.

“Apple Intelligence is … integrated into the core of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac through on-device processing—so it’s aware of your personal information without collecting your personal information,” stated the Silicon Valley giant. “And with groundbreaking Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can draw on larger server-based models, running on Apple silicon, to handle more complex requests for you while protecting your privacy.

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Cellphone Bans Across Canada to Impact Classrooms as Students Return to School

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Smartphones have been troubling educators since the BlackBerry, but as the problem worsens, tough solutions are on the menu. New rules in many Canadian provinces will see fewer cellphones during school time this year as Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba all seek to curb distractions in the classroom.

Given that approximately 90% of teenagers use mobile technology devices, and teens are notoriously rebellious besides, such rules may be challenging to enforce, which has some teachers concerned. But similar rules executed in Europe have thus far yielded positive results, early data suggests.

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Cybertruck Launches in Canada at Awkward Time as EV Industry Slows

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The timing of Elon Musk’s latest product launch may be suboptimal—the limited-edition Foundation Series Cybertruck is now officially available without reservation in Canada, but the steel beast arrives at a moment when the nation’s electric vehicle industry is grappling with some serious issues.

In Canada, the inaugural Cybertruck starts at a whopping $138,000, with a triple-motor version reaching $166,00 before taxes. Those placing orders today could expect their Cybertruck to be delivered as soon as October. That’s one key sign there probably wasn’t that many reservations to begin with.

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Atlas Revolutionizes Restaurant Management with Tech-Driven Solutions

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Toronto’s Atlas is transforming the hospitality industry with its innovative platform that centralizes data and automates daily operations for restaurant operators. Atlas provides real-time insights, streamlines tasks, and optimizes profitability, supporting popular Toronto restaurants like Nobu and Trinity Market.

The platform integrates seamlessly with existing systems, automating processes like tip distribution and financial reporting. As the industry faces rising costs, Atlas offers solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce the burden on operators, allowing them to focus on delivering exceptional service. Atlas plans to expand its offerings and market presence in the coming months.

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CRTC Invests $17M to Improve Cell Service Along Major Roads in Quebec and Ontario

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The CRTC is taking action to improve cellphone service along one hundred kilometres of major roads across Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario to “help make it safer for Canadians to travel along these roads.” It’s part of the Broadband Fund launched in 2019 to connect rural and remote communities.

Through the Fund, the CRTC is committing over $17 million to Bell Canada, TBayTel, TELUS Communications, and Sogetel Mobilité. to build new cell towers and improve cellphone service along eight major roads. “High-quality communications services are essential to every aspect of our daily lives,” stated  Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC.

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Benevity Reveals Next CEO as Kelly Schmitt Steps Down After Six Years at Helm

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Benevity, a provider of social impact software, announced the appointment of Christopher Maloof as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer. The transition “marks a significant milestone as Benevity embraces its next phase of growth as the world’s leading enterprise impact platform.”

Maloof succeeds Kelly Schmitt, who has opted to step down after a six-year tenure. He says it’s an “exciting” time to be joining the organization. “Benevity has a strong foundation as a business, is incredibly successful, and has a deep culture of service,” Maloof stated. “There is a great opportunity to meaningfully expand upon what the team has built.”

Canadian Fintech Hardbacon Collapses Following Changes to Google Search

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Canadian financial technology firm Hardbacon has shuttered. All employees have been let go, CEO Julien Brault stated, and operations have been suspended as his company declares bankruptcy. Changes to Google’s search algorithm impacted sites with affiliate links and caused traffic to Hardbacon to plummet overnight.

Within months, visits were down 97%, “despite extensive SEO and content optimization work.” In an effort to ride out the wave, the CEO attempted to manage expenses, but traffic never returned. Brault hopes that, at a minimum, Google might “lose ground due to its abusive behaviour” as the tech titan is increasingly scrutinized for its monopolizing methods.

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Canada’s EV Industry at Crossroads as General Motors Considers Situation

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Canada’s electric vehicle industry stands at a crossroads as General Motors and Unifor Local 88, representing workers at the BrightDrop EV plant in Ontario, enter crucial contract negotiations. The outcome of these talks will provide insight into GM’s commitment to its $2 billion investment in Canadian EV production.

The BrightDrop plant, once a symbol of Canada’s promising EV future, faces challenges as GM grapples with layoffs and project delays. Despite broad uncertainty around the nation’s EV sector, workers remain optimistic about BrightDrop’s potential. Their contract ends September 17.

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RCMP Warns of ‘Violent Online Groups Targeting Youth’ via Games and Apps

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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is warning parents their youth may be at risk from threat of violent online groups. The organization’s National Security Program is working in tandem with the National Child Exploitation Crime Centre to address rising concerns of “Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist entities … targeting youth online with the intention of getting them to record or live-stream acts of self-harm, suicide, animal torture and/or produce child sexual abuse material. “

These dangerous gangs operate on publicly available platforms, the RCMP says, including gaming platforms and social media sites popular with youth. There are “many major crimes being committed by these groups,” according to a statement.

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Commerce Giant Shopify Unveils Microsoft A.I. Veteran Mikhail Parakhin as CTO

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Shopify has brought on board Mikhail Parakhin as the Ottawa commerce giant’s new Chief Technology Officer. Described by Shopify as “one of the finest machine learning crafters on the planet,” Parakhin hails from Microsoft and Yandex, where he developed various digital and A.I. products as chief of tech.

“Mikhail’s career is a testament to his ability to build critical infrastructure and invent key technology that has made a significant impact on the broader tech industry,” reads a statement from Shopify. “As CTO, Mikhail will oversee our engineering and data organizations and push Shopify to the cutting edge.”

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