The federal government’s latest move to bring artificial intelligence into the public service is already stirring questions about both its purpose and its impact. Ottawa recently announced a memorandum of understanding with Canadian AI company Cohere, positioning the partnership as a step toward transforming government operations and boosting Canada’s ability to export homegrown AI.
On the surface, this seems like a forward-looking policy. Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on the promise of making government more efficient through AI, and this agreement checks that box. But dig a little deeper, and you notice how little we actually know. The government release offered almost no specifics on what Cohere will be doing. Cohere itself, in a blog post, framed the deal in lofty language about “transforming the public sector,” but details remain elusive.
Then there’s the fact that, according to Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon’s office, the deal does not involve any direct financial commitment. That sounds reassuring no taxpayer money spent, at least not yet. But it also raises questions: if this is simply a symbolic gesture, is the government genuinely serious about harnessing AI, or is this more about headlines than results?
There is, undeniably, real potential here. AI could streamline services, cut red tape, and make government more responsive. But it could just as easily lead to wasted time, unrealistic expectations, or worse, systems that compromise privacy and transparency. Without clear safeguards and accountability, “AI in government” risks becoming another political slogan rather than a meaningful change.
For now, Canadians are being asked to take this promise on faith. Until the government lays out concrete goals, measurable outcomes, and protections for citizens, this agreement with Cohere feels less like a transformation and more like an opening act in a play we’ve seen before: grand announcements, little substance.
The potential of AI is not in doubt but the government’s willingness to move beyond rhetoric certainly is.
