With artificial intelligence rapidly reshaping industries worldwide, Durham College is stepping up to help small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) navigate adoption challenges through its AI Hub.
Durham College President Elaine Popp said many smaller firms lack the resources, expertise, or capital to experiment with AI without disrupting daily operations. “Most small and medium-sized businesses don’t have dedicated AI specialists or data scientists on staff. Add in uncertainty around regulations, privacy, and ethics, and it’s no wonder adoption feels daunting,” Popp explained in an op-ed circulated this week.
She emphasized the critical role colleges play as “nimble, applied research partners” that can help businesses integrate AI in cost-effective and practical ways. “If Canada’s smaller firms can’t keep pace, they risk losing market share and missing the chance to lead in emerging industries,” Popp warned, adding that the creation of Canada’s first federal AI minister underscores that adoption is no longer optional.
AI Hub Success Stories
Since opening in 2017, Durham College’s AI Hub has partnered with over 100 businesses to prototype solutions, lower adoption risks, and accelerate time to market. Notable collaborations include:
- ADOREYES – developing a deep learning-based skin analysis platform to detect skin conditions and provide data-driven recommendations.
- MinuteBox – creating an AI tool to sort legal and accounting documents, reducing processing time from hours to minutes while cutting human error.
- Precise ParkLink – leading to “Joy,” Canada’s first AI-powered virtual parking assistant kiosk, now installed at Humber River Hospital, offering multilingual, interactive guidance on parking and regulations.
Both MinuteBox and ADOREYES earned the AI Impact Award in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Popp said Ontario colleges are uniquely positioned to act as testing grounds for firms hesitant about investing heavily in new technology. Colleges, she argued, help companies retain intellectual property rights, train their workforce, and design customized AI solutions.
“Industry can’t do this alone. If we want Canada to lead in AI, we need deliberate partnerships between businesses, colleges, and government,” Popp said, urging policymakers to support applied research funding, tax incentives, and workforce development initiatives.
Durham College maintains that with collaborative investment, AI can be transformed from an abstract concept into a tangible tool that improves efficiency, sustainability, and even saves lives.