Brain Capital Perspectives: Andrew Nevin

What will it take for Canadians to thrive in an AI-enabled economy? To explore this question, the Public Policy Forum convened a diverse group of leaders from across Canada working at the intersection of talent, education, workforce development, technology, health and inclusion. They share their perspectives on strengthening brain health, building future-ready skills and creating the conditions for more Canadians to contribute, succeed and flourish. (Read the full series of Q&A’s.)

Q: What is the most pressing talent challenge Canada needs to address?

A: The biggest challenge is ensuring Canadians have the cognitive skills needed to succeed in an increasingly uncertain future. While technical skills will continue to change, capabilities such as critical reasoning, problem-solving, adaptability, innovation and social intelligence will remain valuable across industries and careers. Canada cannot predict exactly what jobs or technologies will dominate in 20 years, but it can prepare people to navigate change.

Too often, talent discussions focus on current labour shortages. We also need to focus on the foundational skills that help people learn, adapt and create throughout their lives. Those capabilities are becoming even more important as AI transforms work.

Equipping Canadians with the tools and neuroliteracy to take agency over their brain health and performance can deliver a workforce with strong cognitive flexibility and resilience better positioned to respond to economic, technological and societal change, regardless of what the future holds.

Q: What two or three actions or policy shifts would help address this challenge?

A: One of the most impactful investments Canada could make is introducing age-appropriate neuroscience education, or neuroliteracy, throughout the education system. By helping people understand how their brains work, we can equip them to develop habits that support learning, resilience and long-term cognitive performance.

Research shows that brain health skills can be taught and strengthened over time. Building these concepts into education from an early age would help create a generation better prepared to adapt, learn and thrive in a changing economy.

Provincial education systems have an important leadership role, while colleges and universities can advance brain-healthy campus models. Governments can also lead by example through the public service, demonstrating how investments in brain health and cognitive performance improve workplace outcomes. These are relatively low-cost interventions with the potential for lifelong benefits.

The great thing about brain health interventions at scale is that they have both extraordinary human and economic impact – there is no tradeoff.

Q: How is AI changing the talent needs in your field, and what opportunities or risks does it create?

A: I will make higher-order human skills more important, not less. As machines take on routine tasks, skills such as judgment, critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal communication will become increasingly valuable.

The greatest risk is not AI itself, but how people use it. There is a risk of a potential new form of inequality: cognitive inequality. Individuals with strong cognitive skills and AI literacy will be able to use AI to enhance learning, challenge assumptions and deepen their thinking. Others may rely on AI primarily to summarize, decide and solve problems for them, reducing the mental effort needed to build and maintain their cognitive capacity.

AI also raises questions about social connection. Human interaction develops cognitive and interpersonal abilities that cannot be replicated through technology alone. The opportunity is to use AI as a tool that augments human capability rather than replacing it, while ensuring people continue to develop both cognitive and social skills.