Federal government taps Cohere to work on use of AI in public service
The Canadian government has recently partnered with Cohere, an artificial intelligence company based in Toronto, to explore how AI technology can enhance public service operations. This collaboration, spearheaded by Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, aims to leverage Cohere’s expertise in developing large language models to improve the efficiency, intelligence, and security of federal public services.
According to Sofia Ouslis, a spokesperson for Minister Solomon, the agreement between the government and Cohere focuses on identifying specific areas where Canadian-built AI tools can make a tangible impact on public services. While there are no formal deadlines attached to the agreement, the government is prioritizing this initiative and moving quickly to explore real-world applications.
Although the agreement does not include a financial component, Cohere expressed its commitment to transforming the public sector with its secure and sovereign AI technology. In a recent blog post, the company highlighted the potential for AI adoption to deliver significant productivity and efficiency gains, ultimately enhancing public services and modernizing operations.
In addition to enhancing public services, the government’s partnership with Cohere also aims to strengthen Canada’s commercial capabilities in utilizing and exporting AI technology. While specific details about this aspect of the agreement were not provided in the government news release, it underscores Ottawa’s broader strategy to harness the power of transformative technologies like AI while fostering a thriving made-in-Canada technology sector.
The use of artificial intelligence to increase efficiency in the public service aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s election promises, which included capping the size of the public service and implementing program spending cuts across departments and agencies. The government recognizes AI as a transformative technology with the potential to significantly improve government operations and services for Canadians, reinforcing its commitment to driving innovation and building a vibrant technology ecosystem in Canada.
