President Yoon Suk-yeol, third from right, looks at a robotic hand demonstration ahead of a meeting with a group of artificial intelligence experts at the University of Toronto, Thursday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Canada, Thursday (local time), to strengthen technological ties with the North American country.

This visit is the last leg of his three-nation trip to the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Yoon began his schedule in Canada by meeting with a group of experts on artificial intelligence (AI) in Toronto.

At the University of Toronto, Yoon met with Geoffrey Hinton, a professor emeritus of computer science and a pioneer of deep learning, Garth Gibson, president of the Vector Institute, and Meric Gertler, president of the University of Toronto, along with Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Victor Fedeli.

Yoon described Toronto as an AI powerhouse that researchers and big tech companies flock to.

"Korea and Canada will be able to take another leap forward in the field of AI if we cooperate. I am here to listen to the secret to Canada's success in AI and seek advice on Korea's path to becoming an AI powerhouse," Yoon said.