The City of Ottawa is working on a policy for employees to use artificial intelligence (AI), as staff begin using technology to screen resumes and applications, track municipal assets and boost workplace productivity. The finance and corporate services committee received an update on the city’s implementation of artificial intelligence in city services during the debate on the 2026 budget Tuesday morning. Kyla Weir, an information technology program manager at the City of Ottawa, told the committee that 3,200 employees at Ottawa City Hall are already using AI copilot. “We have enabled our people, and we are not replacing them,” Weir said. City Manager Wendy Stephanson said a new AI framework will be introduced in 2026 covering the governance, privacy and overall structures the city will put in place to use AI “responsibly.” “The City is exploring and implementing various AI initiatives, really focusing on the application of technology to improve public services, enhance productivity and our overall operational efficiency,” Stephanson said. Weir outlined examples of how the city uses AI, including a program called SAP Joule that allows for faster human resources screening, including resumes. “Sometimes when we post a job at the city – not always – we will get hundreds of applicants,” Weir said. “This is a tool that helps us quickly screen through to candidates that are most worthwhile.” The city is also using Geospitial analytics to collect an inventory of city assets. “We have an AI tool that notes the signs and lights from the GATsmobile data, so a person doesn’t have to go through that manually,” Weir said. Between Oct. 25 and Nov. 23, 3,239 staff members used AI Copilot, submitting 114,000 prompts to AI. Copilot is an AI assistant that helps office workers find information. “It helps people do things faster. It helps people find information and draft communications and may feel like an understatement, but if I reflect back on my career at the city that is probably 95 per cent of what I do,” Weir said. “These all support what AI told me you care about – streamlining operations, enhancing services.” The City of Ottawa has used AI to build bots to provide efficient resident support, survey analysis tools and support leaders’ connection to staff and residents. Weir told councillors that the City of Ottawa is “doing well” to implement AI within the city’s operations. “We want to increase the velocity of adoption by building lower customization products for a larger share of our organization,” Weir said, adding they want to boost the number of users.
