The federal government has launched a public register for where and how it’s using artificial intelligence, making good on one element of its strategy for implementing AI across the public service.
The register captures the current or planned use of AI across 42 institutions, including more than 400 systems where the technology is being used in varying capacities.
“The AI Register is an important step in building public trust and ensuring the responsible use of AI across the federal public service,” Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali said in a news release Friday.
The
is part of the
, which was released earlier this year and
will shape how the government expands
its use of the technology through 2027.
In the news release, the Treasury Board said the register will help departments find opportunities to work more efficiently, reduce duplication and support planning by giving them “a clearer view of AI activity across government.”
The register details each AI system, including its purpose, intended use and whether it was built internally or by a vendor.
As an example, one entry lists the use of computer models by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to “identify different insect species from images taken from sticky traps” to help populate an online dashboard tracking biodiversity.
Another entry details a pilot project by Fisheries and Oceans Canada that would flag when boats and other watercraft are caught on camera being towed across the border, in an effort to study the movement of invasive aquatic species.
Yet another describes a chatbot named Polly used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to help officers dig up information from official policy manuals.
AI adoption a priority
Since the campaign trail, Prime Minister Mark Carney has signalled an intention to expand the use of AI across the federal bureaucracy, sparking fears among some public servants about the
disruptive potential of the technology
.
In July, the federal government announced its plans to
partner with Canadian AI firm Cohere
to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in the public service.
The 2025 budget, approved by MPs in a slim margin earlier this month, lists AI as a key tool in the government’s efforts to increase productivity while trimming the public service.
Some early adoption has raised concerns. Translators, for example, have warned the use of AI for government translation services would not only mean lost jobs, but
could also spell the loss of nuance
in translated texts.
Canada is far from the first jurisdiction to launch an AI register. All federal U.S. agencies are required to publish an annual inventory of their current and planned AI use.
Other jurisdictions with similar registers include the Netherlands, Scotland, and state governments in Texas, Vermont and Washington.
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