Dr. Diane Gutiw
Vice-President and AI Research Centre Lead,
CGI
Governments are in the midst of a fundamental transformation in the way the public sector operates in today’s digital world. Leveraging advanced technologies, such as rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, have the potential to improve the speed and effectiveness of the delivery of public services to Canadians. But if we are to capitalize on this potential, we need to move from talking about it to developing tangible and high value use cases and accelerating responsible adoption.
Canadian-based CGI, one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, is helping government agencies streamline operations and improve public services by identifying suitable processes for automation and AI, while addressing concerns around security, compliance, and budget constraints. Early applications in government operations are already enhancing efficiency and accessibility, showing how responsible AI solutions can address pressing needs within public services.
Changing the conversation
We’re hearing a lot of excitement from our clients, and the conversation is shifting from what are we able to do with this technology to how can we make it useful.
“We’re hearing a lot of excitement from our clients, and the conversation is shifting from what are we able to do with this technology to how can we make it useful,” says Dr. Diane Gutiw, Vice-President and AI Research Centre Lead, CGI. “There’s a lot of hands-on experimentation currently underway with AI in the public sector; however, there’s still a gap in moving that into production. But I believe we’re going to see a rapid move in the coming year to more implementation as the public sector finalizes its AI policies, AI governance models and terms of use.”
Dr. Gutiw adds that rather than throwing generative AI or even traditional AI at everything, we need to identify the problem we are trying to solve and then determine the best technology to address that problem or question. “This is what will make the biggest difference, and it’s very much a custom fit”, she says.
Harnessing the responsible use of AI
As with any technology, responsible use is imperative. When it comes to AI, this is a concern that comes to the forefront. CGI is deeply committed to upholding the highest standards in AI development and deployment. It has signed the Canadian Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems, and its framework for responsible use of AI ensures that risk analysis and mitigation are part of every step in AI design and implementation. Public trust happens by embedding ethical considerations into AI strategies.
With a strategy and safeguards in place, public sector agencies can start small to move forward and learn as they go. By doing this, they can prove what it can do in the realm of possibility and build on the knowledge gained.
It’s through strong public-private partnerships that governments can accelerate responsible AI adoption. As a trusted partner that provides tailored solutions, deep industry experience and a commitment to responsible technology use, CGI solves problems and accelerates outcomes with AI.
CGI reinforces its ethical AI leadership globally as well, by signing the EU AI Act Pact, emphasizing Responsible AI through risk management, AI literacy, and governance, while contributing to the development of the Code of Conduct for General Purpose AI. Workshops and consultations from November 2024 to April 2025 aim to shape the future of ethical AI practices.
To learn more about CGI’s expertise, visitcgi.com.
