About AI NOW

Built by Indigenous leaders, for Indigenous leaders and communities navigating AI.

AI is being built right now, and it will be deployed into our communities whether or not we help design it. AI NOW is where we help design it.

The mission

Move from being consulted to directing the work.

For two decades, Indigenous communities have been invited to "consult" on technology that was already designed, funded, and half-deployed. AI is moving too fast for that pattern to continue.

AI NOW exists so Indigenous founders, elected leaders, educators, procurement officers, data custodians, and capital allocators are in the same room — with AI vendors, federal program leads, and researchers — making actual decisions, setting actual contracts, and opening actual doors.

Canadian prairie and mountains
"Nothing about us, without us — and this time, ahead of the curve rather than ten years behind it." — AI NOW founding principle
Who it's for

If you're making AI decisions for an Indigenous business, nation, or community — this is your room.

01

Indigenous founders & executives

Building AI into your company, agency, or nation-owned business. You need vendor connections, procurement paths, and peer benchmarking.

02

Nation & community leadership

Chiefs, council, economic development officers, data custodians, health and education leads making policy decisions about AI deployment.

03

Partners & sponsors

AI vendors, capital allocators, federal program offices, and researchers who want to work with Indigenous communities — not "for" them.

The producers

A 50/50 joint venture between
IOPPS and Inspire Group of Companies.

Marketing & Community

IOPPS

Nathan Arias and the IOPPS team run AI NOW's storytelling: online content, speaker interviews, partner outreach, and the social surface around the event.

iopps.ca →
Production & Logistics

Inspire Group of Companies

Karen McCarthy and the Inspire team own conference production, venue operations, Indigenous event protocol, and on-the-ground logistics.

Learn more →
Ready?

The room fills fast.

300 seats total. Once they're gone, you'll be waiting until the next one.

Register now Become a sponsor