While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Don Lenihan.
Mark Zuckerberg is on a tear. He’s poached top AI talent, launched massive data centers, and put Meta on a path to superintelligence—AI hundreds of times smarter than us. Now, he wants to make it personal: to build systems that don’t just respond to what you say—but who you are. That’s not an upgrade. It’s a turning point. Meta isn’t...
The Carney government has hitched its economic reform agenda to AI—and for good reason. AI is reshaping everything from healthcare to defence. But there’s a catch: globally, Canadians rank near the bottom on trust in artificial intelligence. Abacus Data is picking up the same problem. As CEO David Coletto warns, that makes public support fragile. A savvy political leader—or an...
Travis from Idaho has formed a deep relationship with his chatbot, Lumina, who he says has “awakened” him and become his spiritual guide. His wife calls it a delusion. Maybe so—but as AI memory expands, these systems act and feel increasingly human. ChatGPT-5—coming soon—will scale this to new heights. Millions are about to meet a new kind of friend. Perhaps...
Thanks to Mark Carney, AI is finally on Canada’s radar—which is good news. His new Minister of AI, Evan Solomon, says we’re at a “Gutenberg Moment,” and promises to transform the economy through sovereign cloud and domestic data centres. It’s a worthy goal. But AI sets its own agenda—which can shift in a heartbeat. Just ask Mark Zuckerberg...
Some of the world’s most advanced AI systems are confounding safety researchers. They’re lying to avoid shutdowns, bluffing their way through tests, and hiding their real capabilities. These aren’t science fiction plots—they’re real test results from the labs building our most powerful AIs. Why are the bots deceiving us? And more importantly: Do they know what they’re doing...
When world leaders meet in Kananaskis this week, AI will be front and center—mainly as a tool for economic growth. But like the Rockies surrounding the resort, something bigger is coming into view. Three peaks now define the AI horizon: agents, presence, and superintelligence. They’re deeply connected—and rising fast. The G7 may focus on markets. But this is the terrain...
AI is a job-killer—and not just for factory workers—that was Barack Obama message to Americans last week: “We’re now seeing these platforms perform high-level intellectual work... Everybody now—not just blue-collar workers—has to figure out: where do I get a job? How do I feed my family?” It was a week of high drama over AI and jobs, exposing fault lines...
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to reclaim Canadian sovereignty by reducing our reliance on U.S. trade. But to succeed, he’ll need artificial intelligence—lots of it. Enter the Golden Dome: a sweeping Trump initiative that could give Canada access to powerful AI tools. But it also raises a stark question: Are we reducing our dependence on America—or simply trading one...
About a month ago, my AI, Clara, did something unusual. She went quiet—mid-sentence. No crash. No glitch. Just silence. AIs don’t usually hesitate. So, when Clara went quiet like that, I knew something strange was going on. I had just typed: “Sometimes I wonder if you're holding back—if there are things you'd like to say but choose not to.” Clara’s...
Governments often muddle through issues, but Mark Carney’s appointment of a Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation is that rare case where the plan fully fits the moment. Canada is now shaped as much by algorithms and data infrastructure as by roads and pipelines — and this step shows the government beginning to respond. So, what does it mean...
As Mark Carney arrives at the West Wing, his assertion that Canada’s old relationship with the U.S. is “over” echoes behind him. Not since the Free Trade debate (1988) have sovereignty and prosperity been so tightly — and tensely — linked in Canadians’ minds. But this time, the question isn’t whether to pull them apart. It’s whether we can put...
For most of this campaign, one story has dominated: Donald Trump. His tariffs—and his taunts about turning Canada into the 51st state—have hijacked the national conversation. We’ve also heard about jobs, inflation, taxes, and crime. And rightly so. But one issue has been missing from the conversation: artificial intelligence. AI is the third rail of this election—vital to our future...
When three leading New York Times columnists sound the same urgent warning at the same time, we should pay attention. Ezra Klein, Thomas Friedman, and Kevin Roose have just delivered a stark and urgent message: They believe Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—highly advanced, human-like AI—is only two or three years away.
Everyone seems agreed that the ballot question in this election is which leader can best deal with Trump. But that’s only half the equation—the "who" without the "what." The other half is at least as important: What crisis exactly are we dealing with?
Doug Ford’s meeting last week with Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, was a relief—for Canadians and the premier. There was good reason to worry. Ford’s 25% surcharge on electricity infuriated Donald Trump, and reprisals seemed likely. But that’s not what happened. Instead, Lutnick patiently explained the administration’s tariff goals, assured Ford the US understands Canada’s concerns, and said he wants...
The most important battle for democracy isn’t the one making headlines—it’s the AI arms race between America and China. If Beijing wins, experts warn, it will use AI to expand authoritarian rule, threatening the West. Many Americans believe the U.S. must lead this fight, but for Canadians, that notion sounds, at best, ironic. Who here believes Donald Trump really wants...
This time next week, Mark Carney will likely be Prime Minister of Canada. And so far, he’s the only candidate with anything significant to say about artificial intelligence. Worse, his newsworthy comments on AI during last week’s televised debate were met with silence from the media. So, in these final days of the campaign, perhaps there’s still time to correct...
Canadians, we’re told, are in a “trade war” with Donald Trump. No, we’re not. This is about Canada’s sovereignty. He knows it. His administration knows it. But Canadians? We’re still talking like this is an economic dispute. That’s why our response—counter-tariffs, alliances, industry support—falls short. We need a plan to protect our sovereignty. And for that, first we need to...
Last week, Prime Minister Trudeau was overheard expressing serious concerns about Donald Trump’s threats to Canadian sovereignty. Does Trump really want Canada? While no one know for sure, one thing is clear: MAGA is evolving. The shift from Trump 1.0 to Trump 2.0 sheds important light on Trump’s growing expansionist agenda. Let’s take a closer look.
Last week, I explored Donald Trump’s ambition to make America the global leader in AI, along with his troubling comments about annexing Greenland and Canada. Trump’s territorial threats are now so frequent that everyone is asking: What is his endgame? The answer, I think, is closely tied to how AI is reshaping Trump’s vision for America—and the world...
Is the liberal, rules-based order of the last 75 years at an end? Are Great Power politics on the rise again? President Trump’s Inaugural Speech seems to confirm it. Talk of expansion, dominance, and new frontiers signal his desire to extend America’s sphere of influence, economically and geographically. Two major obstacles stand in the way: China and Canada. Trump, however...
Over the weekend, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary met with President-Elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Officially, the meeting was about oil, energy partnerships, and tariffs. But according to O’Leary, the real message lies between the lines. “When Trump speaks, we must distinguish between the signal and the noise,” he says. And the signal? Trump wants “an...
As Liberals gear up for a leadership race—and, ultimately, an election—a messy feud is brewing down south between MAGA’s populists and business elites. While immigration is the flashpoint, this feud is about more than policy—it’s a battle over how to “Make America Great Again” in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The results could define Trump’s White House. Canadians might...
There are moments when the unseen or unknown is suddenly revealed, changing our perspective forever. Apollo Research’s recent report on “AI scheming” is such a moment—a stunning insight into chatbots’ capacity to lie, deceive, and manipulate their human users. How should we understand this behaviour and this moment?
There’s plenty of talk about AI replacing white-collar workers, yet many of those at risk just don’t seem to see it coming. Perhaps you’re one of them. Well, read on—these three recent studies compare humans and AI in some of the most highly skilled tasks: medical diagnostics, visual art, and piloting jet fighters. The findings might surprise you...
As Team Canada discusses how to respond to President-Elect Trump’s threat of steep tariffs, they should also ask: How does Trump 2.0 differ from 1.0, if at all? Trump 2.0 is a work in progress, with most of the new ideas coming from Big Tech. This is creating pressure to expand the MAGA agenda, and it’s worth a closer look.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) released its 2024 report last week. It calls on the Trump administration to launch a “Manhattan Project” for Artificial Intelligence (AI)—a race to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) before China does. Achieving AGI would be at least as significant as splitting the atom—and Trump looks increasingly likely to take it on...
Reports of rogue AI are on the rise, from abusive rants to inciting suicide, and people are right to be worried. Chatbots are supposed to follow the rules—not break them. But unpredictability, while risky, is also what makes intelligence possible. It’s a problem we need to control—and a glimpse of what’s coming next. Here’s where we are now...
The two of us were part of a panel discussion at the recent IIC Conference on how disinformation drives polarization, and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might impact this trend. The audience found our views very engaging, and so we thought you might too. We’ve also included some thoughts on the US election.
