Hosted at US CAN STARTUP in partnership with PKU Canada
The inaugural AI Friday Fireside Talk: AI Frontiers and Opportunities was successfully held last Friday at the US CAN STARTUP Vancouver office, bringing together founders, researchers, students, and industry professionals for an evening of meaningful conversation on the future of artificial intelligence. Co-hosted in partnership with the Peking University Alumni Foundation of Canada (PKU Canada), the event drew a full room and sparked lively discussions that extended well beyond the scheduled program.
Featured Speakers
The session brought together three distinguished voices from academia and industry:
• Prof. Jiangchuan Liu (SFU)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Professor Liu delivered an accessible and insightful overview of AI fundamentals, recent breakthroughs, and emerging directions shaping the next wave of AI innovation.
• Prof. Haishan Zeng (UBC)
As moderator, Professor Zeng guided the fireside conversation through technical, societal, and ethical dimensions, encouraging participants to reflect on how AI impacts research, industry, and everyday life.
• Shun Ma, CEO of US CAN STARTUP
Representing the industry perspective, Shun connected academic insights to real-world applications, highlighting opportunities for founders and innovators in Canada’s evolving AI ecosystem.
Curiosity That Continued Beyond the Program
The Q&A portion extended long after the formal session, with participants raising thoughtful questions on:
- AI risk and safety
- Industry adoption and commercialization
- Ethical frameworks
- Talent and the future job market
The depth and enthusiasm of the discussion demonstrated the strong interest in AI development within Vancouver’s innovation community.
Acknowledgments
Event photography was provided by Xlens, whose AI-powered event photo platform delivered real-time access to attendees.
Sponsors included SheepSleep, OptHealth, HealthByte, and Xlens, some of UCS’s portfolio companies advancing innovation in AI, HealthTech and SportsTech.
Organizing partner: Peking University Alumni Foundation of Canada (PKU Canada).
US CAN STARTUP is proud to collaborate with PKU Canada and our portfolio companies to strengthen academic–industry connections and support community-building within Vancouver’s tech ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
AI Friday marks the first session of a new monthly series that aims to bring together leaders across research, entrepreneurship, and technology. We look forward to continuing to create spaces where ideas can spark, conversations can deepen, and innovators can connect.Stay tuned for updates on next month’s AI Friday session.