Canada partners with Cohere to explore AI in the public service
Members of the media may directly contact:
Teresa Scassa ( English & French)
Full Professor, Common Law Section, Faculty of Law & Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy
Professor Scassa is a member of Canada’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence and her research explores the intersection of law and technology, and she draws upon interdisciplinary approaches and networks in her work.
“While there is real potential for the use of AI in the public sector, such use must be attentive to risks, as well as to the particular legal obligations owed to the public by the government.”
Karen Eltis (English & French)
Full Professor, Civil Law Section, Faculty of Law
Professor Eltis is Faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society, and specializes in artificial intelligence/ innovation law and policy and cybersecurity from a comparative perspective.
Timothy Lethbridge (English & French)
Full professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering
Professor Lethbridge's research focuses on AI, computer science, the internet, software engineering, and web engineering.
“The government has a rich ecosystem of companies and needs to invest in AI to enhance decision-making and process efficiency. However, AI usage carries risks, including undetected errors and bias, and commitment to a specific technology can be precarious as advancements occur rapidly. I hope the contract with Cohere addresses these risks effectively.
Numerous Canadian companies are involved in AI software and consulting. The selection of Cohere likely followed a systematic process based on various criteria, but without access to their proposal, it's challenging to fairly assess the appropriateness of this choice.”
Jasmin Manseau (English & French)
Lecturer, Business Analytics & Information Systems, Telfer School of Management
[email protected]
Professor Manseau's research focuses on emerging AI technologies, particularly natural language processing and intelligent assistants. He is interested in how these technologies drive workplace digitalization and reshape organizational strategies.
"It’s how I would do it: seek Canadian firms with the know-how and invite them to think strategically about modernizing public services with AI. Canada’s collaboration with Cohere is an important made-in-Canada step, but its success will hinge on strategic pilots, private-sector expertise, and learning from past IT challenges to secure early wins. With world-class AI pioneers already in Canada, large language models can bring real value in areas like documentation and process improvement, while directly addressing privacy and security concerns to ensure data remains here."
André Vellino (English & French)
Associate professor, School of Information Studies, Faculty of Arts
Professor Vellino's expertise includes the automation of reasoning - making machines "think" - and the representation of information by machines.
"The Government of Canada is wise to seek counsel from industry insiders who understand AI technology and can see where the puck is going, but it must remain vigilant about potential conflicts of interest between the private sector and the public good."
Nour El Kadri (English only)
Part-time professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Telfer School of Management
Professor El Kadri has an expertise in AI and Strategic Management.
"It is great to tap into local expertise like those of Cohere, but the government of Canada needs a comprehensive approach that completes a 360 degree hub. Such an initiative will put us as a nation back in the game. We are still far from doing that and we are losing our competitive edge both in the public and private sectors."