Ottawa teams up with startup Cohere to bring AI to the public sector
The federal government is teaming up with Canadian artificial intelligence startup Cohere Inc. to broaden the use of AI in the public sector.
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Ottawa and Cohere on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding that pledges to find ways to deploy the technology across the government. The non-binding agreement will also have the government and Cohere work together to 'build out Canada's commercial capabilities in using and exporting AI.'
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'By working with Canadian AI innovators like Cohere, we're laying the groundwork for a more efficient, effective and productive public service while helping ensure that Canada remains competitive in this new era,' Evan Solomon, Canada's AI and digital innovation minister, said in a statement.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to usher in the 'biggest transformation' of the Canadian economy since the end of the Second World War and to overhaul the public sector to make it more efficient and productive.
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AI is seen as a key pillar to Ottawa's goals, though the government has released few details on how the technology will be deployed.
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So far, Ottawa has said the Translation Bureau, which provides translation services for government agencies and is operated by Public Services and Procurement Canada, is developing the inaugural project under the national AI strategy for the public service that will let civil servants use AI tools trained with Canadian data.
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Canada was the first country to launch a national AI strategy in 2017. Since 2016, the government has committed more than $4.4 billion for AI and digital infrastructure initiatives.
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Toronto-based Cohere, which creates AI models for businesses rather than consumers, is trying to secure a foothold as the provider of choice for enterprises and governments worldwide.
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Earlier this month, the startup officially launched its AI agent platform and is targeting businesses across North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In June, it announced a partnership with the United Kingdom that will let Keir Starmer's government use its AI tools to 'enhance government services and national sovereignty.'
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