Canada has ranked fifth among 56 commonwealth countries in youth artificial intelligence readiness, scoring 70.2 out of 100, according to a new study by the Ayre Think Tank.
However the study identified gaps in education and training, particularly in preparing young people to use AI effectively.
The inaugural Ayre Index placed Singapore, Malta, Australia and the UK ahead of Canada. Canada scored 9.4 out of 10 in meaningful access to technology and digital, data, media and AI capabilities, but received just 5.3 in education and training delivery.
The findings were released during the Common Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, attended by His Majesty King Charles III and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Speaking about the Index, Calvin Ayre, Antiguan-Canadian philanthropist, entrepreneur and founder of the Ayre Think Tank, said, “AI is going to change how we work, how we do business and how wealth is created. What matters is giving young people the skills and the chance to get ahead – whether to start businesses, find jobs or build something for themselves.”
The study highlighted a gap between Canada’s strong digital infrastructure and the practical application of AI skills among young people.
According to the Ayre Think Tank’s analysis of OECD PISA 2025 data, only 37.7 per cent of Canadian 15-year-olds reported using AI chatbots for schoolwork at least weekly, compared with an OECD average of approximately 46 percent.
Separately, Statistics Canada’s research found that just 10 per cent of employed 15- to 24-year-olds used generative AI at work over a 12-month period. The Index did not identify an explicit reference to AI in the teacher-policy evidence it used for Canada, drawing on UNESCO’s country profile on technology in education.
The report estimated that AI could contribute between C$51.19 billion and C$150.44 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next decade. Under a moderate growth scenario, the potential increase was estimated at C$150.44 billion, based on scenarios developed by the International Monetary Fund.
The Ayre Think Tank produced a white paper reporting on the findings from the Index, and the paper identifies five global priorities: affordable and reliable access to technology; education that develops practical skills; stronger routes from training into employment and enterprise; AI tools suited to local languages and needs; and safeguards that enable young people to question automated decisions.
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