Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali unveiled on Friday the introduction of the federal government’s inaugural public AI register, detailing the utilization and testing of artificial intelligence across federal departments. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat highlighted that the current register encompasses insights from 43 organizations, showcasing over 400 AI systems under exploration, development, implementation, or deployment.
The register aims to enhance organizational visibility of AI initiatives within the government, facilitating improved planning, reduced redundancy, and the identification of operational efficiency opportunities. The initial register version provides insights into the purpose, description, and development origin of each AI system, along with its intended or current application. Ongoing refinement and updates will be conducted by federal entities.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s drive to embed AI technologies in federal operations to enhance public service efficiency. In a recent development, the government announced a pilot program deploying an AI tool across six departments and agencies to aid in official language translations, a move that raised concerns regarding its ability to capture nuances, especially in French.
The latest federal budget unveiled plans for the establishment of an Office of Digital Transformation by the Carney government to identify and scale technology solutions throughout the federal sector. Additionally, Shared Services Canada, in collaboration with the Department of National Defence and the Communications Security Establishment, will develop an in-house AI tool for federal deployment. The budget also emphasizes partnerships with leading Canadian AI firms for tool development.
Several departments and agencies are exploring AI integration to drive operational efficiencies and cost savings. The Department of Justice will leverage AI, advanced analytics, and automation tools to streamline operations, while Transport Canada aims to reduce costs through AI and automation, optimizing resource allocation. Furthermore, the government proposed a $25 million allocation over six years to Statistics Canada for the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Measurement Program (TechStat) to evaluate AI utilization and its societal impact.