Enormous potential, still largely untapped
According to the latest data, 61% of Canadian companies already use AI to some extent. This is encouraging, but we must not be fooled by these figures: they mask significant inequalities. Large companies, with significant resources and specialized teams, are doing very well. Among SMEs, adoption remains timid, if not non-existent.
Yet the signs are clear: the Quebec government supports the adoption of AI in businesses and even offers tax credits to those that integrate smart features into their operations. The ecosystem is there, as are the incentives. What's missing? A strategic push. And a better understanding of what AI can really do, in concrete terms, for businesses.
Why is it stalling? Lack of skills, lack of vision
AI difficult to identify needs | TechnologiaAccording to a recent report, 73% of Quebec businesses struggle to identify their operational needs related to AI. In other words, they don't know where to start. And that's understandable: AI is often perceived as a vague field, reserved for engineers or tech giants.
But this perception is outdated. Today's AI is not (only) a matter for research laboratories. It is an accessible and adaptable tool that can address very concrete issues: too many manual tasks, long lead times, unexploited data, inefficient customer service, etc.
The obstacle is often a lack of internal skills. Few managers, in IT or elsewhere, have received training on the subject. And in many cases, the resistance comes from management: without a strategic understanding of the issue, projects remain at a standstill.
Leaders are not waiting
Some companies are already ahead of the curve. The STM, for example, uses AI to optimize its service planning. Metro uses predictive analytics to better manage its inventory. The result: fewer losses, greater efficiency, and better customer service. And above all: a measurable return on investment.
These cases are not exceptional. They are simply the result of a structured approach: identify a specific problem -> find the right technological solution -> mobilize the right resources.
SMEs can also follow this path. They don't need teams of full-time data specialists to get started, but they do need a clear vision and managers capable of steering this type of project.
AI is not just an IT issue
Too often, artificial intelligence is relegated to the IT department. This is a mistake: AI is a cross-functional transformation. It concerns:
HR, which can automate CV sorting or anticipate departures.
Finance, which can detect anomalies and model scenarios.
Operations, which can plan maintenance and reduce human error.
Marketing, which can personalize customer journeys on a large scale.
In short, every function in the company has something to gain. But managers need to understand the potential and be trained to seize it.
Ethics and regulation: we need to be prepared
Integrating AI is not just a question of performance. It is also a question of responsibility. Because yes, AI can generate bias, raise privacy issues, or create technological dependence.
Regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly. In Canada, as elsewhere, governments are putting guidelines in place to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. Waiting for the law to come knocking is not a strategy. It is better to anticipate, train teams, and adopt responsible practices today.
The time to act is now
Quebec has everything it needs to become a world leader in artificial intelligence. But this leadership will not be built solely in labs or innovation centers. It must be deployed in businesses of all sizes, across the province.
AI is not a luxury. It is a condition for medium-term survival. Companies that refuse to evolve will fall behind their competitors, market expectations, and upcoming regulations.
It is not too late to get started. But it begins with a first step: understanding the issues, training your teams, and initiating realistic, well-supervised projects.
To move from intention to action, you need to be well equipped. That's precisely what our AI Activation training offers, designed to help managers launch concrete projects aligned with their business priorities.
