Black in Canada

The future is equitable: Balancing the impact of GenAI on Canada's Black communities

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Generative AI (GenAI) emerges as a pivotal technology with the potential to redefine industries and societal norms. Our latest report, The future is equitable: Balancing the impact of GenAI on Canada's Black communities delves into the profound implications of GenAI for equity, inclusion, and the socio-economic advancement of Black communities in Canada.

Explore the full report to discover how strategic, ethical, and inclusive approaches to GenAI can open new opportunities for equity, prosperity, and growth for Canadian organizations and Black communities across Canada. Organizations have an economic imperative to deploy equitable solutions: by embracing GenAI with a focus on strategic planning, ethics, and inclusivity, businesses can bridge equity gaps while unlocking new avenues for growth. These technologies can revolutionize sectors like healthcare, education, and business, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic advancement.

About the report

This report explores the critical role of diversity in the development and deployment of generative AI solutions. It argues that for AI to truly reach its full potential, it must incorporate the perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and real-world expertise. By embracing this diversity, AI can become a powerful tool for fostering inclusion, opening up new opportunities across industries and equity-seeking communities. This presents a unique chance for businesses to differentiate themselves in a competitive market by offering innovative, inclusive solutions that resonate with a broader audience.

Focus group sessions and a national survey were launched between May and July 2024. Over 646 executive business leaders across Canada were surveyed for this report.

Key findings highlighted in the report:

1. Leveraging GenAI with a focus on diversity and inclusion is more than a social responsibility—it's a strategic imperative that can drive economic growth and deliver a competitive advantage. For instance, the Black consumer market in the US is projected to reach $1.8 trillion in 2024, illustrating the vast potential of inclusive market strategies. By applying a similar approach in Canada, businesses can unlock new markets, foster innovation, and enhance financial performance, positioning themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving landscape.
2. GenAI systems that lack diversity risk perpetuating biases and alienating equity-seeking users, leading to negative experiences, reduced trust, and decreased engagement. To ensure broader adoption and long-term success, organizations must develop GenAI tools that reflect the diversity of their user base.
3. There is an urgent need for robust policy frameworks and ethical guidelines to govern the deployment of GenAI solutions. Only 1 in 20 leaders surveyed were confident that current organizational AI and ethical frameworks could address issues related to bias and discrimination. While 78% of leaders surveyed believed that GenAI systems should undergo regular audits for bias and fairness. To mitigate risks and build trust, it is crucial for organizations to prioritize AI model transparency and accountability. By implementing clear guidelines for AI usage, ensuring explain-ability, and regularly auditing AI models, businesses can reduce the risk of bias, enhance decision-making, and demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices.
4. Diverse perspectives enhance problem-solving, innovation, and ethical decision-making, leading to better-performing AI systems and more equitable solutions across various sectors. Over 60% of survey respondents believed that diverse AI teams could be the key to mitigating bias in AI systems.
5. Black professionals and Equity Seeking Groups (ESGs) who upskill now and embrace the current wave of AI innovation will position themselves for future success. With fewer than 25% of Canadian businesses actively using GenAI solutions regularly, those who grasp the potential of these technologies early will gain a significant competitive advantage.

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Consult our thought leadership reports:

The Black in Canada Journey Map: Empowering Black talent at every stage of their career (2023)

Deloitte Canada is launching the second installment of its Black in Canada report series, the Black In Canada Journey Map: Empowering Black talent at every stage of their career. Built with the BlackNorth pledge as a reference point, the Journey Map provides a framework with key actions to cultivate a more inclusive workplace for Black individuals and empower them for career success. The framework includes metrics and activities to enable organizations to measure what gets done. This framework is a starting point— we challenge you and your organization to set goals, collect data, and adopt your own metrics to make fundamental improvements for your Black employees and teammates through purposeful action.

Acknowledging our past, owning our present, and changing our future (2021)

The string of killings and police brutality against Black people, including the reprehensible videotaped slaying of George Floyd in the spring of 2020, sparked international outrage and brought attention to the legacy of anti‑Black racism and racial inequity in Canada. This has highlighted the need for Canadian organizations to acknowledge the lived experiences of their Black colleagues, take action toward reconciliation and structural change, and commit to becoming anti-racist organizations.

In order to do this, we must acknowledge that “empty statements do not change systems; collective and compassionate effort does,” as stated by Deloitte Canada CEO, Anthony Viel. To put compassionate effort into practice, individuals must first understand the legacy of anti‑Black racism in Canada and how it manifests in workplaces—through bias, privilege, policies, and power dynamics.

The prevalence of racism at work, the amount of time we spend at work, and the role that workplaces play as a locus of stratification in society, organizational leaders are in a unique position to start addressing anti‑Black racism in their own organizations. These changes could have an out‑sized, positive impact on shifting the trajectory of Black economic and social inclusion, justice, and equity in Canada.