THE BIG STORY

Public Sector AI Strategy: Lessons from Singapore, Finland, Brazil and Canada

Real strategies, real investment, real results… and what your organization can learn from them

It's almost 2026, and the pressure to “do something with AI” isn't going away. But here's the uncomfortable truth: most government organizations are stuck. Not because they lack ambition, but because they're trying to scale technology without building capability first.

The challenges show up everywhere. Teams invest in tools before defining outcomes. Policies can't keep pace with innovation. Departments work in silos. And without transparency, even well-intentioned projects erode public trust.

Through our work with public sector clients, we've seen this pattern repeat: organizations that succeed don't rush to deploy – they build organizational readiness. They move through four stages: Curiosity, Control, Capability, and Confidence. The question isn't whether to use AI. It's whether your organization is ready.

So what does readiness actually look like? We studied recent AI strategies from Singapore, Finland, Brazil, and Canada – countries making substantial investments in infrastructure, governance, and talent development. Their approaches differ, but they share one priority: starting with people and problems, not technology.

Want to know where your organization sits on the maturity spectrum – and what it takes to move forward?

Read the full analysis.

BUTTON NEWS

Button Workshop Series: Volume 3 |
Smart Grants: How You Can Leverage AI for Winning Applications

📅 Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 | 🕛 9 – 10 AM PST | Online

Building off our last workshop series, AI Done Right: Deciding Before You Dive In, we're excited to announce our next event. On Tuesday, November 18th, we’re hosting a virtual workshop: Smart Grants: How You Can Leverage AI for Winning Applications. Together, we’ll dive into the world of grants and how AI can enhance the writing process.

The workshop explores practical techniques for integrating AI into composing compelling narratives, identifying funding opportunities, and refining proposals for clarity and impact.

Interested in joining us? Visit our event registration page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Victoria

November 5 | Data Talks – How Azure AI Foundry Turns Unstructured Data Into Understanding: Discover how Azure AI automates data curation and extraction to transform raw information into strategic intelligence through real-world demos and expert insights. Free for members, $10 for non-members. | TIME: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM PST | PLACE: KPMG Ignition Hub, 730 View St, 7th Floor | DETAILS

December 1-2 | Government Innovation Week Two-day event featuring Digital Leadership Day and showcases on government innovation and cybersecurity. Explore BC's Digital Plan and how digital transformation drives accessible, inclusive public services. | TIME: 8:00 AM | PLACE: Victoria Conference Centre | COST: Free for Public Sector Network members | DETAILS

Calgary

November 3-6 | Calgary Innovation Week Week-long celebration of Calgary's booming tech ecosystem with panels, workshops, pitches, and launch party. Featuring 77+ events across the city showcasing startups, scaleups, and innovation. | TIME: Various | PLACE: Platform Innovation Centre & citywide venues | COST: Various | DETAILS

Edmonton

November 13-14 | Robotics & Intelligent Systems Expo: RISEx: Unite with robotics and AI communities exploring advancements in automation, mobility, healthcare robotics, and human-centred design. Fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration for innovation. | TIME: Various | PLACE: University of Alberta | COST: From $250 | DETAILS

Toronto

November 19, 26, December 3 | Navigating AI: Age of the Agent for Public Service: Dynamic, hands-on IPAC training series for leaders navigating generative AI advancements, including AI Agents in public service contexts. Three-session format. | TIME: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST | PLACE: Online | COST: Free for Canadian public servants | DETAILS

November 20 | AI Toronto Summit: Toronto's industry-focused AI summit for engineers, builders, and tech execs. Explore agentic AI, generative systems, infrastructure challenges, and cost-effective deployment strategies. | TIME: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST | PLACE: Courtyard Toronto Downtown, 475 Yonge Street | DETAILS

November 24 | Service Design Learning Series: Explore leading internal service design pilot projects with practitioner insights on embedding design practice, building buy-in, and scaling impact within complex organizations. Interactive Q&A included. | TIME: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST | PLACE: Lillian H. Smith Public Library, 239 College St., Toronto | COST: Free | DETAILS

WHAT WE’RE READING

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, by Adam Grant

We're obsessed with talent. Natural ability. Starting strong. But organizational psychologist Adam Grant argues we've got it backwards. Potential isn't about where you start, but about how far you travel.

Through compelling research and real-world stories, Grant dismantles the myth that success belongs to the naturally gifted. Instead, he shows how character skills like discipline, proactivity, and resilience consistently outperform cognitive abilities. In one study of 1,500 entrepreneurs, those who developed character skills saw profits jump 30% over two years – nearly triple the growth of those who focused on hard skills alone.

Grant's framework centres on three elements: building character skills, sustaining motivation through discomfort, and creating systems of opportunity. He challenges perfectionism, encourages ”failure budgets,“ and demonstrates why starting before you‘re ready often leads to breakthrough growth.

The book speaks directly to anyone who‘s felt stuck between where they are and where they could be. Whether you're leading teams through digital transformation or navigating organizational change, Grant‘s insights remind us that capability isn‘t fixed – it's cultivated through consistent practice, supportive systems, and the courage to embrace discomfort.

Progress isn't about natural talent. It's about the character to keep going when things get hard. Get the book here.

FURTHER READING

Stay on top of vital digital services news and tips by checking out insights from our previous newsletters

BUYING CANADIAN IS NOT ENOUGH: A practical technology roadmap for going from foreign vendor lock-in to harnessing Canadian innovation.

STREAMLINING FEATURE APPROVAL IN GOVERNMENT APPS: The Button secret for streamlining feature approvals for seamless, consistent user experiences across government applications

ESCAPING THE SPREADSHEET NIGHTMARE: A government leader’s guide to making smarter BI decisions.

SUPERCHARGE THE IMPACT OF YOUR DATA INSIGHTS: The uncomfortable truth about how humans actually process information—and what to do about it.

🔥 THE NEWEST HOT BUTTON REPORT: Learn how to rebuild trust with your stakeholders. Download the full, free report now.

🇨🇦 Curious what a Canadian-first tech stack could look like for you?

We’ll happily walk you through three smart swaps that improve resilience, and reduce exposure without breaking your workflows.

Book a 30-minute working session with Button.

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