Building Canada’s next defence advantage in the age of AI
By Derek Dobson, Partner with IBM Canada
Canada’s defence community operates in a complex, fast‑changing security environment. It faces escalating cyber threats, ongoing geopolitical instability, and rapid advances in technology. These pressures demand readiness and resilience at a new level.
The Government of Canada’s Our North Strong and Free policy calls for modernising capabilities, strengthening cyber resilience, and enhancing operational readiness; trusted AI can help achieve these goals if it is deployed responsibly and with governance at its core.
Turning policy into capability demands a structured approach. A trusted AI blueprint can provide that framework, ensuring innovation advances in lockstep with governance and national priorities.
AI That Works With People
In defence, speed is critical and judgement is decisive. AI must process data at the speed modern operations demand while leaving ethical decisions and mission context to human commanders. This is AI as an enabler, not a replacement. It supports the government’s commitment to keeping people at the centre of mission success – whether directly in the decision loop or supervising outcomes “on the loop” as modern operations demand.
Governance Protects Sovereignty
Governance is not optional. It is the safeguard that ensures systems and data remain under Canadian control. It prevents external influence and aligns technology with national interests.
In a digital battlespace, sovereignty means maintaining full decision‑making authority and operational independence. Governance delivers that outcome. It also strengthens Canada’s ability to work seamlessly with allies while keeping national priorities front and centre.
Preparing for the Quantum Era
Defence modernisation is not only about AI. The rapid progress of quantum computing brings both opportunity and risk. Future cryptographically relevant quantum computers could undermine the current security that protects military communications, intelligence, and critical infrastructure. Even today, “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks by bad actors are attempts to steal sensitive data and store it until they have the opportunity to tap into future quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption.
Canada must begin the transition to quantum‑safe cryptography to ensure long‑term security for equipment programs and supply chains that often span decades. Integrating quantum‑safe protections across domains – air, land, sea, space, and cyber – will minimise operational disruption, enhance interoperability, and reinforce sovereignty.
Mission‑Specific AI in Action
Purpose‑built AI models are already transforming defence missions worldwide. They integrate authenticated defence intelligence with advanced AI capabilities and deliver real‑time, mission‑relevant insights.
These models work securely in classified, air‑gapped, and edge environments. They compress planning timelines from weeks to minutes and enable scenario modelling and wargaming with trusted data.
Canada has the opportunity to apply these capabilities to its own priorities, enabling faster and more informed decisions without losing human oversight. This work is supported by collaborative initiatives that bring together defence organisations, industry partners, and technologists in secure environments. One example is IBM’s Defence and Intelligence Centre in Ottawa, which will provide a governed space for Canadian defence stakeholders to work with advanced technologies, share expertise, and strengthen operational readiness while safeguarding sensitive data and reinforcing sovereignty.
Skills Decide Success
Technology alone is not enough. The ability to deploy AI responsibly depends on people who are trained, informed, and empowered to work alongside intelligent systems.
Canada is already investing in AI literacy for defence personnel, embedding governance into operational workflows, and building a culture where innovation is matched with accountability.
With the right skills, AI becomes a force multiplier. Without them, even the most advanced systems carry risk.
The Time Is Right
Canada’s defence priorities are ambitious and forward‑looking. Trusted, mission‑specific AI, combined with quantum‑safe protections, can help deliver on them now. It can enhance readiness, speed decisions, harden cyber resilience, and safeguard sovereignty.
The opportunity is clear. By combining governed AI with human expertise and secure access to advanced capabilities under Canadian control, Canada can remain strong, secure, and engaged – ready for the challenges ahead.
Author bio
Derek Dobson is a Partner with IBM Canada with over 35 years’ experience in government, defence, and national security. A former officer in the British Army and Canadian Armed Forces, he has commanded operations worldwide and is recognised as a Member of Order of the British Empire and the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff commendation for services to defence digitization.
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