Calgary Navigates AI's Dual Edge: Innovation Meets Public Concern
Calgary's AI Reality Mirroring National Concerns
A recent Angus Reid Institute report, released November 20, 2025, reveals widespread Canadian anxiety about Artificial Intelligence, a sentiment keenly felt in Calgary. While the city's tech sector boomed with a 61% talent increase, driving a forecasted 2.4% economic expansion, residents mirror national fears about AI’s impact on prosperity and jobs.
The Widening Prosperity Gap and Local Jobs
The Angus Reid data shows a significant income gap in AI usage, with higher earners (39% of those >$100K) using AI weekly more than lower earners. Four-in-five Canadians (78%) foresee AI creating a prosperity gap. This resonates in Calgary, where a University of Calgary professor noted a skills mismatch contributing to the city's 7.9% unemployment (November 2025), particularly for youth, despite tech growth. An overwhelming 86% of Canadians anticipate job loss due to AI.
Privacy and Governance in Alberta
Canadians are deeply worried about misinformation (95%) and privacy. Alberta's Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has been proactive, advocating for standalone provincial AI legislation by September 2025, emphasizing transparency and opt-out rights. The provincial *Protection of Privacy Act*, in force June 11, 2025, further strengthens safeguards, addressing critical public concerns as AI, like ChatGPT (used by 71% of users), becomes ubiquitous.
AI's Local Footprint: Energy and Ethics
The City of Calgary is already leveraging AI for traffic safety and public services. However, 78% of Canadians worry about AI’s energy consumption. Alberta’s ambition to attract $100 billion in data centre investments raises questions about grid capacity and water use. As 23% of Canadians remain "Alarmed Critics" of AI, Calgary balances innovation with the imperative to manage its profound societal and environmental implications.
