There are two aspects to that.
On the data side, there are three elements to the data that we have to think about.
There's the actual data, such as our citizen data, our own health care data, etc., that sits there. However, in the age of AI, especially on the digital side, it's also creating data. The models run, we have telemetry that's running on it and you're looking at all the information that flows through. Having control of that information is a critical aspect.
We can think of sovereignty. Signal 49, which used to be called the Conference Board of Canada, just came out with a new metaphor. The metaphor that has previously been used is that data is the new oil. In the age of AI, the term they now use is that data is the new soil. It is a place where you cultivate and grow, and you reap benefits that pay out over time. Unlike oil, which is typically taken out and exported, data is something we should continue to use.
The second element of that is the operational control. My colleague just talked about some elements, but there are a few more I would add to that. It's not about who can actually stop access to some of that information. If you think of dependency, especially on foreign entities, in some cases they may not allow you to upgrade your software, for example. There are ways that are extraterritorial, and in today's geopolitical environment, it's absolutely important that you control that infrastructure from end to end.
If you think about Telus, we own everything from the fibre networks to the data centres to where the models are deployed on our premises, and then the information, whether it's in transit or at rest, flows through our networks. I think that becomes an aspect of critical importance.
To answer your second question, about commercial viability, Canada is on the cusp of another revolution. If you think of where we are, the window is small, but there is a global compute shortage. This is something you see that plays out across the board. It's one of the reasons you see large American multinationals trying to buy up data centres or establish their presence in Canada.
When you think of that global compute shortage, you think of the natural advantages we have, whether it's the land, renewable power, the talent, the research or the start-up ecosystem. We have the ability to own the end-to-end AI ecosystem and make this a strong competitive advantage for us collectively, versus being at the base infrastructure level.
That would be my response.