Ontario lettuce farm using AI to grow greens
AI technology is used to farm greens at Haven Greens in King City Township. (CTV News/Luke Simard)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
36 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Cohere launches AI health care agents in the U.S.
Canadian artificial intelligence company Cohere Inc. is entering the health care industry through a partnership with U.S.-based Ensemble Health Partners that uses AI agents to help hospitals and other providers manage their revenue. Cohere, founded in 2019, uses large-language models to build chatbots and generative-AI platforms for enterprise customers to automate some tasks. The partnership with Ensemble, launched Tuesday, uses a customized version of the North by Cohere platform that will run on health care providers' internal systems and help with tasks such as hospitals appealing insurance-claim denials and chasing down accounts receivable. The company said pre-launch tests of the tools accelerated denial appeals by 40 per cent and improved denial overturn rates by 15 per cent. Running on internal systems is a key part of how the AI system protects the safety of patients' information and complies with privacy law, said Cohere co-founder Ivan Zhang. 'There's no data leaving their system, because all the agents are in the house,' he said. Because of those privacy concerns, Mr. Zhang said the AI has to be trained on synthetic data, which would be similar to real-world data in likeness and structure but without any protected personal information. The foray into health-care follows Cohere's work in the financial sector, which has to adhere to similar privacy rules. In January, the company announced a partnership with Royal Bank of Canada to co-develop and run a customized platform called North for Banking which, among other things, helps employees answer questions from customers. Mr. Zhang said Cohere is focused on the U.S. market for now, but hopes to have more to announce for Canadian health-care soon. 'So far, we are focused on the U.S. markets. We want to take these learnings and adapt it to different systems in Canada and globally,' he said. Cohere did not disclose any financial terms or which U.S. clients are using the AI platform. The company also received a nod Tuesday from new federal AI minister Evan Solomon. In a speech in Ottawa, Mr. Solomon outlined the government's new approach to AI, saying it would shift from 'warnings and regulation' to celebrating industry 'champions' such as Cohere. Mr. Zhang said he was 'delighted' by the support and said there was a strong case to be made that investments in AI were part of strengthening Canada's economy and security. 'We've been very happy about the government's engagement so far,' he said.
CTV News
38 minutes ago
- CTV News
County pushes back on Barrie's boundary expansion proposal
The County of Simcoe is raising concerns about the City of Barrie's proposed boundary expansion, warning it could cost the region millions in tax revenue and development charges, impact infrastructure, and chip away at local economic development. According to a recommendation report presented to the County on Tuesday, staff were directed to work closely with impacted municipalities and consultants to complete a detailed analysis of the potential fallout from Barrie's proposed annexation of land from Springwater and Oro-Medonte. "An adjustment to the boundaries of the Township of Oro-Medonte and the Township of Springwater is also an adjustment to the boundaries of the County of Simcoe," the report noted. "There are countless examples of municipalities growing side by side in Ontario, where annexation is not required to support growth." The County made it clear it's not opposed to a boundary adjustment, as long as the municipalities involved achieve 'mutual benefit.' The County wants a comprehensive impact analysis to be considered before any changes are approved. It also seeks to have an equal role in negotiations with the City of Barrie. According to County staff, the total annual County tax revenue of the proposed annexed lands could be as much as $6.5 million and tens of millions in development charges. The area under consideration includes about 11 kilometres of County and provincial roads and key employment lands that support long-term economic growth. The report notes the goal is to support sustainable growth that is balanced within the County without giving up control to a single city. The County is calling on the province to extend the deadline for a boundary agreement framework from Sept. 30 to Nov. 28 to allow for more thorough analysis and engagement. The report also states the County plans to continue working through the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator in hopes of reaching a cooperative solution with Barrie, but noted that if those efforts are unsuccessful, staff is prepared to present its findings directly to the province. Related Articles >> 'Is it a fulsome proposal?' Oro-Medonte responds to Barrie after ongoing boundary talks >> What's next for the boundary adjustment deal between Barrie and Springwater >> Significant development unveiled in Barrie's much-debated push for more land >> Barrie's mayor addresses push for boundary expansion at Queen's Park >> New report shifts focus to housing in Barrie's boundary expansion debate
National Post
44 minutes ago
- National Post
Western Metallica Announces AGM Results and Termination of the Caña Brava Option
Article content TORONTO — Western Metallica Resources Corp. (TSXV: WMS) (' Western Metallica ' or the ' Company ') announces the results of its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 9 th, 2025 (the 'Meeting'). Article content Over 30% of the Company's shares were represented at the Meeting. Article content Article content Detailed results of the vote for the election of Directors held virtually at the Meeting on June 9 th, 2025, are set out below: Article content Shareholders at the meeting also approved the appointment of McGovern Hurley LLP as the Company's auditors. Disinterested shareholders also reapproved an omnibus incentive plan pursuant to which the Company may issue restrictive share units and stock options to eligible participants, subject to the receipt of all required approvals, including the TSXV. Article content The Shareholders of the Corporation also passed a special resolution authorizing the directors to consolidate the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation common share for each ten (10) pre-consolidation shares of the Corporation (the 'Share Consolidation'). Subject to the approval of the TSXV, the Board has the authority to implement the Share Consolidation, in its sole discretion, at any time prior to June 9 th, 2026, being one year from the date of the Meeting. Article content The Company also announces that it has terminated its option to acquire 100% of the mineral claims, rights and interests in the Caña Brava Copper Project ('Caña Brava'), situated in the La Libertad Department in Northern Peru. The Company has given notice for the termination of the option agreement which will be effective immediately. Article content The Company also announces the resignation of Giovanni Funaioli as Vice President of Exploration, effective May 31, 2025. Article content About Western Metallica Resources Corp. Article content Western Metallica is an Ontario registered company with its head office in Toronto, Ontario, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol WMS. Western Metallica is in the business of mineral resource exploration and development with interests in various projects including its 100% owned Nueva Celti Copper Property in the Ossa Morena belt in Andalusia, Spain, and three other gold projects located in the 'Navelgas Gold Belt' in Asturias, Spain (Penedela, Valledor and Sierra Alta). Further information of the Company can be found at: Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains statements that constitute 'forward-statements.' Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words 'estimate', 'project', 'belief', 'anticipate', 'intend', 'expect', 'plan', 'predict', 'may' or 'should' and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release may include information relating to planned drill programs and the development of other mining projects and prospects thereof. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Article content Article content Article content Gregory Duras Article content
