Louis Tetu, chair at Coveo, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the company’s deal with the Government of Canada for partnership to help boost AI growth.
The federal government is moving to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the public service, as it looks to modernize operations, cut costs and improve how Canadians access information and services.
BNN Bloomberg spoke with Louis Tetu, chair of Coveo, about Ottawa’s push to deploy AI-search and generative technologies, why digital sovereignty is becoming central to government strategy, and how Canada can better retain and industrialize its AI talent.
Key Takeaways
- Ottawa is looking to use artificial intelligence to modernize public services and improve how Canadians and public servants access information.
- AI-search and generative tools are being positioned as a major opportunity to cut costs and return time to citizens.
- Digital sovereignty is emerging as a core priority, with an emphasis on Canadian-built AI infrastructure.
- The government is seeking to act as a catalyst for wider AI adoption across the Canadian economy.
- Retaining and industrializing domestic AI talent is seen as critical to improving productivity and competitiveness.
Louis Tetu, chair at Coveo Louis Tetu, chair at Coveo
Read the full transcript below:
ROGER: Montreal-based AI leader Coveo and the federal government have announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting innovation and the adoption of artificial intelligence in government. Let’s get more on this from Louis Tetu, chair of Coveo. Louis, thank you very much for joining us.
LOUIS: Good morning, Roger.
ROGER: Tell us a little bit about the partnership and what we can expect to see.
LOUIS: I think the government is being very intentional right now about modernizing government with technology, and artificial intelligence in particular. There is a significant opportunity to leverage AI to help Canadians self-serve and to help government workers access better information so they can serve Canadians more effectively. That is a key low-hanging fruit and, potentially, a billion-dollar-plus cost-savings opportunity for the government. Frankly, it can also give time back to Canadians, and that is what we are going to explore together.
ROGER: Have you worked with governments before, and do you think you will be met with resistance?
LOUIS: Yes, we work with governments around the world. Coveo is an internationally recognized leader in applied AI, particularly in applying AI models to secure data. About 98 per cent of our revenue comes from international markets. We work with the governments of Australia and New Zealand, institutions such as the City of New York, and thousands of international brands.
In Canada, we have been a provider of fairly basic search technology, but we have not yet deployed generative AI at full scale. As I said earlier, there is a significant opportunity to explore that, and we believe it can be realized fairly quickly.
ROGER: How important is it for the government to set an example when it comes to AI?
LOUIS: I think it is extremely important. Minister Solomon, Minister Lightbound and Prime Minister Carney have been very clear about their desire to build a sovereign Canadian AI infrastructure that is industrialized. That allows the government to gain the efficiencies it should be seeking from this technology and to act as a catalyst for broader AI adoption across the Canadian economy.
That means encouraging adoption by Canadian businesses and institutions. For all of those reasons, we see the government being very intentional and moving quickly, and we are pleased to explore how we can contribute to that effort.
ROGER: Canada has struggled in the past. You wrote recently that while the country has about 10 per cent of the world’s top-tier AI researchers, it has not fully capitalized on that strength.
LOUIS: That’s correct. Historically, Canada has been very strong in science and research, but less successful at monetizing and industrializing that work. I have spent the past 30 years building large-scale software companies around the world, and I have often seen Canada train some of the best talent globally, only to export that talent and intellectual property elsewhere.
What is encouraging now is a clear shift. There is real intent on the part of the government to industrialize AI and technology more broadly within the Canadian economy, to improve productivity and efficiency. We are behind, but there is a real opportunity here. I often describe this as a railroad moment for Canada, and it is encouraging to see the government moving quickly, not just with companies like ours, but across Canada’s broader technology ecosystem.
ROGER: As we head into the holiday season, what more would you like to see from the government to push this forward?
LOUIS: I would like to see the government stop subsidizing foreign companies to come to Canada and hire our talent. Foreign companies should be paying Canada to access the talent we produce through our education system.
AI is not only a technology race; it is also an energy race and a talent race. Canada is well positioned if we become more attractive to talent, expand domestic talent development and, most importantly, retain that talent within our government, institutions and businesses. I think we are moving in that direction, and that is a very positive development.
ROGER: Louis, thank you very much for joining us today.
LOUIS: My pleasure, Roger. Thanks for having me.
ROGER: Louis Tetu is the chair of Coveo.
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This BNN Bloomberg summary and transcript of the Dec. 17, 2025 interview with Louis Tetu are published with the assistance of AI. Original research, interview questions and added context was created by BNN Bloomberg journalists. An editor also reviewed this material before it was published to ensure its accuracy and adherence with BNN Bloomberg editorial policies and standards.
