In the mid 90’s, barely one-third of Canadians had ever experienced the Internet.
Two decades later, Canada was hailed as the most digitally connected nation on earth, with internet adoption rising to north of 95% of the country’s adult population today.
But despite Canada’s internet usage consistently ranking ahead of others like the US, UK, and Japan, our citizens may be falling behind in relation to tech’s next big boom: artificial intelligence.
A surprising new study pegs Canada as “one of the least AI literate nations in the world.”
The research project, conducted by KPMG International and the University of Melbourne, tapped into the minds of nearly 50,000 people across several dozen countries in order to identify trust levels and attitudes toward the use of AI.
In terms of AI training and literacy, Canadians ranked 44th out of 47 countries, according to the report.
The finding underscores a need for increased investments in AI-related education and training, believes Benjie Thomas, chief executive officer of KPMG in Canada.
“Canada’s economy is facing multiple pressures,” he says, citing U.S. tariffs, geopolitical shifts, and technology advancing “at lightning speed.”
“Now is the time for our organizations, institutions, and governments to act boldly to boost prosperity and advance our competitive position,” Thomas stated, adding that “AI offers us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do that.”
In 2025, just 24% of Canadian respondents report having received AI training, compared to 39% globally.
“Low literacy in AI is holding Canadians back from trusting the technology, and that’s a major barrier to adoption,” Thomas argues. “The more Canadians know about AI, the more likely they are to trust it and use it.”
Only 38% of Canadians said they have moderate or high knowledge of AI, compared to 52% globally.
“We need to get Canadians and Canadian organizations excited about using AI because it can help boost our productivity and create a more competitive and dynamic economy,” Thomas said.
About 47% of Canadians claim to be able use AI effectively, versus 60% globally who claim to be able to do so.
“The ability to use AI effectively and knowledgeably is becoming a critical skill in today’s economy,” posits Thomas. “AI will re-shape the future of nearly every organization, so it’s imperative for Canadian institutions to prioritize AI training and education at all levels–in schools and in the workplace.”
Canadians lack trust in the tech, with 34% trusting information from AI, below the 46% global average. Roughly half accept the use of AI, below the 72% global average.
These results suggest that “AI training and education is necessary for all Canadians,” according to Stephanie Terrill, who serves KPMG as Canadian Managing Partner for Digital and Transformation.
“With more education, we will all be able to use AI more confidently and safely, and adoption will grow,” Terrill affirms. “When AI adoption grows, innovation and productivity growth will follow.”
Currently, more Canadians (46%) believe the risks of AI outweighs the benefits than those who think the benefits outweigh the risk (32%). Terrill wants the country to flip these figures around.
“Canadians are understandably concerned about the potential risks of AI,” she acknowledges, “but being overly risk averse can stifle innovation and hold us back from being competitive.”
Canadians “want assurances that AI systems are safe, secure, and reliable,” according to Terrill, which will require collaboration and involvement from “governments, businesses, academic, and non-profit institutions.”
