Quebec’s Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) is taking significant strides towards creating a comprehensive database designed to enrich artificial intelligence systems with insights into the province’s culture, societal norms, and Indigenous languages. This ambitious project, which follows a recent feasibility study, aims to address the pressing issue of inadequate representation of Quebec’s unique identity in AI training datasets.
A New Era for Cultural Representation in AI
BAnQ has initiated the experimental phase of its proposed databank, focusing on government and cultural content available in French and Indigenous languages. This initiative stems from concerns that current generative AI systems frequently provide inaccurate or incomplete information regarding Quebec’s diverse society due to the scarcity of relevant data.
Valérie D’Amour, who spearheaded the feasibility study, expressed optimism about the project’s potential. “All scenarios are a little bit on the table right now,” she remarked in a recent interview. “We have a lot of ideas and we want to validate the possibilities with cultural stakeholders, as well as with data owners and providers, who will be involved in the discussions.”
A Controlled Approach to Data Sharing
BAnQ has clarified that the forthcoming platform will not serve as a public distribution channel for creative works, with strict controls on data access. Marie Grégoire, the president and chief executive officer of BAnQ, emphasised the necessity for AI systems to accurately reflect Quebec’s cultural landscape. “That means having Quebec references, whether in small models or large models, whether they come from research or from the business community,” she stated.
This initiative aligns with similar efforts seen globally, such as Sweden’s collection of Nordic-language texts to develop generative AI models for Scandinavian languages. BAnQ intends to kick off the project using its own collections before broadening its scope to include data from other sources.
Addressing the Data Deficit
The project is rooted in a 2024 report by Quebec’s innovation council, which highlighted the alarming lack of Quebec-specific data in AI training datasets. Destiny Tchéhouali, a co-holder of a Quebec-based research chair dedicated to French-language AI and digital technologies, underscored the critical need for this initiative. He noted that Quebec’s culture remains “underrepresented in the corpora currently circulating in the AI world,” which poses a risk of perpetuating linguistic and cultural biases, especially concerning Indigenous peoples.
Tchéhouali described the proposed database as “strategic infrastructure” that could establish guidelines for identifying, cataloguing, and tracking local content within contemporary AI systems.
Navigating Copyright Concerns
As BAnQ advances this project, copyright issues have surfaced as a significant concern within the cultural sector. However, Grégoire believes that the new platform may ultimately provide creators with better protections than the current landscape. “Right now, it’s a bit like the Wild West,” she commented. “Data is being harvested for free, and that should not be the case.”
According to her, the database could function as a centralised gateway, streamlining the compensation process for creators whose works are utilised. By collaborating, cultural organisations can ensure that artists are remunerated fairly, which is vital for the sustainability of the creative sector.
Nevertheless, apprehensions persist among artists regarding the potential impact of AI on their livelihoods. Maxime Harvey, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Scientific Research, voiced the prevailing concern: “Even if artists earn income from it, they are still feeding the beast that will eventually be used to replace contracts they may lose because of AI.”
In light of these discussions, the feasibility study envisions the platform becoming operational by 2029, though D’Amour indicated that this timeline will be reviewed following the experimental phase. The projected budget for the initiative is approximately $10.5 million over five years, with BAnQ receiving $340,000 from the Quebec government for the feasibility study and an additional $750,000 to support the project’s twelve-month experimentation phase.
Why it Matters
The establishment of this cultural databank is a pivotal step towards ensuring that Quebec’s rich heritage is accurately represented in artificial intelligence systems. By addressing the current data deficit, this initiative not only aims to enhance the functionality of AI but also seeks to protect and promote the province’s unique linguistic and cultural landscape. As AI technologies continue to permeate various aspects of society, it is imperative that they reflect the diversity and complexity of the communities they serve—especially in a culturally rich region like Quebec.