KPMG Canada’s Stephanie Terrill Talks About AI Risks on BNN Bloomberg
As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes industries and economies worldwide, a new study suggests Canada is lagging behind in understanding and using it effectively. According to a report led by KPMG in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Canada ranks among the bottom globally when it comes to AI knowledge and training.
Stephanie Terrill, managing partner of digital at KPMG Canada, says the issue isn’t about a lack of innovation, but more about hesitation, trust issues, and limited public awareness. “Just like reading, our AI literacy isn’t strong when compared to other countries,” she said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg.
The study placed Canada 44th out of 47 countries in AI literacy and training. Among developed nations, it came 28th out of 30. Over 48,000 people were surveyed globally, including 1,025 Canadians. While Canadians are becoming more familiar with AI tools in their personal lives, many still hesitate to integrate them into their jobs.
Terrill pointed out that Canadians struggle with trusting AI in professional environments. “We’re not seeing the same level of confidence or willingness to use AI in daily work tasks,” she explained. This includes both employees and leaders who remain cautious about delegating tasks to AI tools like large language models.
Lack of Training, Low Trust
Only 24% of Canadians surveyed said they had received any kind of AI training, while the global average stood at 39%. Just 38% said they felt they had moderate or high knowledge of AI—far lower than the 52% global figure.
This knowledge gap extends to understanding when AI is being used, how it works, and how to use it effectively. More concerning is the trust deficit: only 34% of Canadians said they trust information generated by AI, compared to 46% globally. And just half of Canadians are open to the general use of AI, whereas the global acceptance rate is 72%.
A Call for Early Education and Workplace Integration
Terrill emphasized that more investment is needed—not just in tools, but in people. She said AI training and adoption should begin in schools, move through higher education, and continue into the workplace. “We need to build digital literacy from a young age to help future generations use AI wisely,” she noted.
She also believes AI shouldn’t be seen as a threat but as a tool to ease the burden of repetitive, time-consuming tasks. However, human judgment remains irreplaceable. “People are hesitant to rely on machines because it means letting go of control. That mindset needs to shift if we want to keep up,” she said.
Canadians Want Guardrails in Place
The study revealed that three-quarters of Canadians want stronger AI regulations in place—higher than the global average of 70%. This includes built-in accountability and ethical safeguards within AI systems.
The research, conducted between November 2024 and January 2025, was led by Professor Nicole Gillespie and Dr. Steve Lockey from Melbourne Business School, in partnership with KPMG. The Canadian participants included a balanced demographic mix of age and gender.
