SASKATOON — The first-ever Saskatchewan Artificial Intelligence Expo exceeded organizers' expectations, drawing 127 attendees from across Saskatchewan, other parts of Canada and even the United States.
The event was organized by Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan, a non-profit organization founded two years ago that has grown to 165 members, including students, individuals and corporate partners.
AiSask founder Alex Fallon said they are already planning a significantly larger expo next year, with ambitions to attract nearly 1,000 participants, as the strong response of the inaugural event demonstrated that interest in AI is expanding rapidly throughout the province as more people seek to understand how the technology will affect their industries and careers.
"We've been around for about two years, with 165 members from individuals, students and corporate members. Being the first-year event, we weren't sure how much interest there would be; we were pleased to have 127 attendees," said Fallon, who added that the event attracted a broad audience rather than technology professionals only.
Students, business owners and members of the public attended sessions covering artificial intelligence, data centres, AI privacy and data protection, and technology companies showcasing their innovations attended the expo. Breakout sessions focused on data centres, AI privacy, data protection and presentations from some of the local Saskatchewan tech companies.
Innovation Saskatchewan invested $25,000 for the SASK AI EXPO 2026, with Siemens SDA vice president for research and development Jeff Dyck as one of the guest speakers. Workshops and sessions on adopting AI were held during the one-day expo, from responsible and ethical use to new careers and opportunities for startups and established companies to build and scale AI-powered solutions.
The expo also highlighted real-world AI applications across Saskatchewan's key sectors, including agriculture, mining and energy, alongside rapidly growing areas such as healthtech, cleantech and advanced manufacturing.
Launched in 2024, AiSK is Saskatchewan's central hub for AI education, adoption and commercialization. The organization connects industry, government, researchers and entrepreneurs to share knowledge, identify opportunities and build the AI capacity needed to support long-term economic growth and innovation.
