Auditing Alternative Intelligence: - the results were not impressive.

By Gazette Staff

May 15th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

An important Auditor General report.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a major topic of discussion.  It ranges from those who see it as a disaster about to take place to those who tout it as the solution to all our problems.  There are statements being made by both sides that are reckless and irresponsible. The Ontario Auditor General recently released a report on how AI is being used by governments. Portions of their report are set out below.  The full report can be found HERE

Why We Did This Audit
• Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology that brings both opportunities and challenges. Its use raises important concerns around transparency, privacy, security
and the risk of potentially biased outcomes. AI can also impact people’s lives in positive ways by boosting productivity and innovation in various industries and in daily life.
• In November 2024, the Ontario Public Service (OPS) introduced its AI Strategy. The strategy sets out the approach for using AI to deliver services that the government provides to
Ontarians. The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (Ministry) is leading the AI adoption efforts on behalf of the OPS. Our Office performed this audit to
help ensure that the OPS has a strong foundation of AI principles, safeguards and controls in place.

The public needs a much deeper understanding on what AI actually does.

What We Found
OPS Staff Accessed Unsafe and Unsecured AI Websites, Creating Risks of Potential Unauthorized Data Exposure
• The Ministry had not blocked OPS staff’s access to numerous unsafe and unsecured AI websites
on their OPS-provided devices.

• The Ministry had not implemented security controls to prevent OPS staff from inadvertently
uploading Ontarians’ personal information or sensitive corporate data onto these AI websites.
• Of the 400 AI websites that OPS staff accessed between April 2025 and August 2025, 244, or
about 60%, were deemed unsafe and unsecured according to the security score given by Microsoft’s Defender cybersecurity tool.
• As of August 2025, 3% (1,800 of 55,000) of OPS staff had completed the Ministry’s Responsible
Use of AI training. This training is not mandatory.

There is a lot of work to be done to ensure that AI is better understood and that public servants are properly trained in its use.

The Gazette published a report on how AI has done significant damage to individuals.  A link to that report is HERE