Canada launches a 13-member national AI council under Prime Minister Mark Carney

Canada now has a formal brain trust for artificial intelligence. On October 2, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence. It is a 13-member group built to give strategic advice on the country’s AI agenda. Who is on the council and what it is supposed to do The council draws from academia, industry and public service. Its job is advisory: it guides strategy rather than writing laws or handing out money directly. Its mandate ties directly to Canada’s ‘AI for All’ strategy. Groundwork for that strategy was laid in mid-2026, so the council arrives as the next step rather than a cold start. The council’s stated priorities fall into a few buckets: Speeding up AI adoption across the country Developing national champions, meaning homegrown AI companies that can compete at scale Strengthening sovereign AI infrastructure Promoting safety, governance and the protection of democracy Delivering broad economic and social benefits to Canadians The names on the roster give the effort some weight. Yoshua Bengio, one of the field’s best-known researchers, sits on the council. He serves as scientific director at both LawZero and Mila. V...