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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Microsoft to Retire Skype on May 5 After 23 Years

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Microsoft will retire Skype on May 5, ending the 23-year-old platform’s run in favor of Teams. The move follows Skype’s declining user base, from a peak of 300 million users to just 36 million daily users in 2023. Microsoft will allow chat and contact migration to Teams or data exports until year-end, after which accounts will be deleted.

Skype’s telephony services will be discontinued, though Microsoft will support remaining credit use indefinitely. Teams Free, Microsoft’s alternative, offers new integrations but lacks Skype’s phone-call functionality. This marks the end of an era in digital communication.

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Shopify’s SEC Filings Suggest Possible U.S. Move

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Shopify’s latest SEC filings suggest Canada’s largest tech firm may be moving toward U.S. domiciliation, TD Securities analyst Peter Haynes warns. Shopify listed its New York office alongside Ottawa headquarters in a 10-K filing, a form used by U.S. domestic issuers.

The company also added a U.S. Employer Identification Number and reclassified assets, shifting its balance from 86% Canadian to 78% U.S.-based. The move positions Shopify for inclusion in the Russell 1000 Index, potentially boosting U.S. share demand. The company remains silent on redomiciling but has faced recent DEI rollbacks and controversy over content policies.

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Crypto Voters Could Shape Canada’s Next Election

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A new report from Shakepay reveals that over 90% of crypto asset holders voted in Canada’s last federal election, making them a highly engaged voting bloc. With five million crypto holders nationwide, the sector’s $3-trillion global footprint is influencing political preferences.

The report finds that 90% of crypto voters support parties that advance bitcoin-friendly policies, including allowing bitcoin in TFSAs and RRSPs. Describing crypto holders as young, tech-savvy, and financially literate, Shakepay warns that Canada’s cautious stance on bitcoin could leave it behind other jurisdictions embracing digital assets as strategic reserve assets.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

AWS Unveils First Quantum Computing Chip, Ocelot

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled Ocelot, its first quantum computing chip, designed to significantly improve quantum error correction. Developed at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing at Caltech, Ocelot reduces error correction costs by up to 90% using innovative cat qubits, named after Schrödinger’s cat.

The chip integrates superconducting materials and high-quality oscillators to enhance stability. AWS scientists believe Ocelot marks a crucial step toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing, pushing the field beyond laboratory experiments. While still a prototype, AWS plans further engineering refinements to drive quantum computing into practical applications.

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Canada’s Carbon Removal Industry Gets $3M Boost from CICE

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The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) has launched a $3 million funding initiative to support early-stage carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies in Canada. Announced at Carbon Removal Canada’s Carbon Removal Day 2025 in Ottawa, the initiative prioritizes hard-tech solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost economic growth.

CICE, which has invested $39 million in 59 projects, aims to strengthen Canada’s role in the global carbon removal industry. Applications close on April 30, 2025, with a Q&A webinar on March 11 for interested innovators.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Nexera Robotics Secures $4.5M to Advance AI-Powered Automation

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Vancouver-based Nexera Robotics has secured $4.5 million in funding to advance NeuraGrasp, its AI-powered robotic grasping technology. The round, backed by BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, supports Nexera’s mission to revolutionize automation in dynamic environments.

CEO Roy Belak emphasized the demand for flexible automation solutions, while BDC Capital’s Aditya Aggarwal called Nexera’s innovation a major leap in pick-and-place robotics. The funding will accelerate R&D efforts, expand partnerships with system integrators, and position Nexera as a global leader in robotic handling solutions.

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VRIFY Secures $12.5M to Advance AI Mineral Discovery

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Vancouver-based VRIFY has raised $12.5 million in Series B funding to advance its AI-Assisted Mineral Discovery Platform, DORA. The round, led by New York’s LGVP, with support from RCF Innovation and Beedie Capital, brings VRIFY’s total funding to over $30 million. DORA, set to debut at PDAC 2025 in Toronto, uses deep-learning models to accelerate mineral exploration.

Since beta testing, 26 companies have used the platform, including Southern Cross Gold, where it helped identify a high-grade gold deposit. The funding will further enhance DORA’s AI capabilities, marking a shift toward technology-driven mineral discoveries.

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Sanctuary AI’s Phoenix Robots Gain Human-Like Touch

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Sanctuary AI has integrated advanced tactile sensors into its Phoenix general-purpose robots, marking a breakthrough in physical AI. The Vancouver-based company says the technology enhances precision and dexterity, allowing robots to execute touch-driven tasks with greater accuracy.

CEO James Wells highlights the importance of touch in human-level dexterity, enabling features like blind picking and force control. As global labor shortages persist, Sanctuary AI’s sensor-equipped robots offer an efficient alternative to manual labor. The firm, recently ranked third globally for AI robotics patents by Morgan Stanley, continues to push autonomous labor innovation forward.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Kraken Robotics Secures $34M in Battery Orders, Expands in Canada

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Kraken Robotics has secured $34 million in orders for its SeaPower™ pressure-tolerant batteries, including a record $31 million order from an undisclosed defense industry client. To meet demand, Kraken is investing $10 million in a new battery production facility in Nova Scotia, expected to be operational in late 2025.

The 60,000-square-foot facility will triple production capacity and support small and medium UUV markets. Kraken aims to create 200 permanent jobs while strengthening North American subsea defense capabilities. The expansion will complement its existing German facility and support clients across the U.S., Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on GlobeNewswire.

New AI-Driven Welding Robots to Boost Industrial Automation

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Novarc Technologies has partnered with Miller Electric Mfg. LLC to develop AI-powered welding automation, enhancing efficiency in industries like shipbuilding, construction, and heavy equipment manufacturing. The collaboration integrates Novarc’s AI automation with Miller’s Copilot™ welding line, providing real-time adaptive welding solutions to tackle labor shortages and part variability challenges.

Novarc CEO Soroush Karimzadeh calls the partnership a milestone in robotic welding, while Miller’s Nate Leiteritz emphasizes its affordability and flexibility. As AI transforms industrial automation, this venture positions Novarc as a global leader in welding innovation.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.