TLDR: TELUS has become the first company globally to receive the ISO 31700-1 Privacy by Design certification for its generative AI customer support tool. This achievement was highlighted at the UN AI for Good Global Summit 2025, where TELUS showcased its commitment to responsible AI, including integrating Indigenous perspectives into ethical AI development and launching sustainable Sovereign AI Factories in Canada.
GENEVA, Switzerland – TELUS, a prominent global technology company, made significant strides in responsible artificial intelligence (AI) development, showcasing its leadership at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit 2025, held in Geneva from July 8 to 11. The company announced a landmark achievement, becoming the first globally to receive the ISO 31700-1 Privacy by Design certification for its generative AI customer support tool. This certification underscores TELUS’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing transparency and accountability in its AI practices.
During the summit, TELUS emphasized its human-centric approach to AI, actively participating in discussions that highlighted the critical importance of AI literacy and robust governance frameworks. As a proud member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-led AI Skills Coalition, TELUS is dedicated to bridging the global AI skills gap and ensuring equitable participation in AI development. TELUS President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, and Chief Data & Trust Officer, Pamela Snively, were key attendees, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building trust in technology.
A cornerstone of TELUS’s presentation at the summit was an interactive workshop titled ‘Crafting ethical AI with Indigenous intelligence: Partnering with Indigenous Peoples for innovative solutions.’ This session, delivered in collaboration with Shani Gwin, founder and CEO of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and a member of the TELUS Indigenous Advisory Council, demonstrated how TELUS integrates Indigenous Knowledge into ethical AI creation. The workshop featured hands-on AI literacy training using TELUS Digital’s proprietary generative AI platform, Fuel iX™, and pipikwan pêhtâkwan’s AI tool, wâsikan kisewâtisiwin, designed to address unconscious bias towards Indigenous Peoples online. TELUS’s 2025 AI Report, which gathered perspectives from over 5,500 respondents including Indigenous Peoples, further highlighted the importance of integrating these unique insights into responsible AI.
In a move towards sustainable AI infrastructure, TELUS also announced the launch of its Sovereign AI Factories in Canada. These facilities, including a data center in Rimouski, Quebec, operate with an impressive 99% renewable energy usage and boast energy efficiency levels three times higher than the industry average. This initiative reflects TELUS’s dedication to environmentally conscious AI practices.
Pamela Snively, Chief Data & Trust Officer at TELUS, articulated the company’s philosophy: “At TELUS, we believe getting AI right starts with trustworthy, transparent and respectful data practices. Realizing AI’s potential for positive change is only possible by earning the trust of the people it’s meant to serve and that means leading with a human-centric approach.” She added, “We’re proud to have joined other global leaders at the AI for Good Summit because we recognize that responsible AI practices and principles, industry collaboration and community partnerships are the foundation for AI innovation that benefits humanity.”
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Further solidifying its commitment to ethical AI governance, TELUS was the first Canadian company to adopt the Hiroshima AI Process (HAIP) Reporting Framework, aligning its practices with the G7 AI Code of Conduct. It also became the first telecom company in Canada to sign the Government of Canada’s voluntary code of conduct for Generative AI, setting a precedent for ethical AI development and fostering trust and transparency in data practices across the global AI landscape.
