Canada has set up a National Council on Artificial Intelligence to advise the government on AI policy. The council will cover adoption, sovereign infrastructure, economic competitiveness, safety and democratic resilience.

The body brings together leading AI researchers, technology executives and policy experts. The mix reflects how central AI governance has become to national strategy.

Governments are racing to shape rules for advanced AI systems. Canada’s move puts a permanent advisory body at the centre of that effort.

The council’s brief is wide. It spans how AI is adopted across the economy, the computing infrastructure it runs on, and the safeguards needed as systems grow more capable.

Sovereign infrastructure is a key theme. Countries want AI capacity they control, rather than depending fully on foreign clouds and chips.

Safety and democratic resilience are also on the agenda. These cover risks from misuse of powerful models and threats to open discourse.

The council’s advice will feed into Canada’s AI rules in the years ahead. More countries are expected to build similar standing bodies.