The federal government has officially launched its inaugural public AI register, as announced by Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali on Friday. This register, featuring insights from 43 organizations, showcases over 400 AI systems currently under exploration, development, implementation, or deployment within federal departments. By offering a comprehensive overview of AI activities across government sectors, the register aims to enhance strategic planning, reduce redundancy, and enable departments to identify opportunities for improved efficiency.
The initial version of the register provides detailed information about each AI system, including its purpose, description, intended or current use, and whether it was developed in-house or by an external vendor. Continuous refinement and updates to the register will be carried out by federal organizations moving forward.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into federal operations, with the objective of enhancing public service efficiency. In a related development, the government recently unveiled plans to pilot an AI translation tool in six departments and agencies to aid in official language translations for public service communications.
Furthermore, the latest federal budget unveiled by the Carney administration includes the establishment of an Office of Digital Transformation to identify and scale technology solutions across federal operations—offering significant opportunities for local innovators. Additionally, Shared Services Canada (SSC) will collaborate with the Department of National Defence and the Communications Security Establishment to develop a made-in-Canada AI tool for deployment throughout the federal government, in partnership with leading Canadian AI companies.
Moreover, the budget highlights how various departments and agencies are leveraging AI technologies to achieve cost savings through workflow streamlining, reduced manual efforts, and enhanced service delivery. For instance, the Department of Justice plans to integrate AI, advanced analytics, and automation tools to streamline tasks, while Transport Canada aims to utilize AI and automation to optimize resource allocation for repetitive tasks, thereby reducing operational costs.
As part of its commitment to advancing AI capabilities and understanding its societal impact, the government plans to allocate $25 million over six years to Statistics Canada for the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Measurement Program (TechStat). This program will leverage data to assess the utilization of AI by organizations and its implications on Canadian society.