Burlington AI Adoption Tracker
Last updated: May 1, 2026
Overview
The City of Burlington, Ontario has positioned itself as a Canadian leader in municipal AI adoption through a comprehensive digital transformation strategy. In 2023, the city embarked on an ambitious AI journey that includes deploying CoBy, one of Canada's first municipal AI-powered digital assistants created with Microsoft Copilot Studio[1]. The city has implemented two major AI pilot projects to revolutionize building permit processes: an AI tool for zoning bylaw compliance that reduced building permit approval times from 15-17 weeks to 5-7 weeks, and an AI system for architectural drawing assessment against Ontario Building Code requirements[2]. Burlington is notably the second city in Canada to use this permitting technology and the first to apply it specifically for employment land development[3]. Led by Chief Information Officer Chad MacDonald, the city's approach emphasizes 'assistive AI' that augments rather than replaces human expertise, with all AI initiatives requiring human oversight and verification[4].
- [1] The City of Burlington embraces AI in its digital transformation
- [2] Launch of new digital assistant on City website provides enhanced customer support
- [3] Burlington launches technology pilot to accelerate permitting process for commercial buildings
- [4] Burlington pilot project uses AI to aid in building developments
AI Maturity Index
Radar Comparison
Peer Comparison: Burlington vs retail
Based on 41 companies in sector
| Dimension | Burlington | Sector Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 4.0 | 3.5 | +0.5 |
| Proficiency | 4.0 | 3.2 | +0.8 |
| Impact | 4.0 | 3.3 | +0.7 |
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.3 | +0.7 |
Key Metrics
AI Initiatives
CoBy AI Digital Assistant
February 2024
AI-powered digital assistant providing 24/7 customer support on the city website
Built using Microsoft Copilot Studio with GPT technology, provides real-time responses to resident inquiries, designed to learn and adapt from interactions
AI Building Permit Review System
July 2023
AI tools for automated zoning bylaw compliance and building code assessment
Two-part system: one tool evaluates industrial-commercial building designs against zoning bylaws, another assesses architectural drawings against Ontario Building Code. Provides immediate compliance reports and reduces manual exchanges
Frequently Asked Questions
The system uses two AI tools: one evaluates building designs against zoning bylaws for setbacks, heights, and parking ratios; the other assesses architectural drawings against Ontario Building Code requirements. Both provide instant compliance reports to applicants.
No, Burlington emphasizes 'assistive AI' that augments human capabilities. All AI-generated content requires human review and verification, and the technology is designed to free up staff for higher-value activities.
Residents can access CoBy through a green conversation bubble on any page of burlington.ca. They can ask questions about city services and receive real-time, AI-generated responses 24/7.
Burlington is the second city in Canada to use AI for permitting processes and the first to apply it specifically for employment land development. The city is also among the first Canadian municipalities to deploy a generative AI digital assistant.
The city requires human oversight for all AI outputs, uses iterative training to improve accuracy, and maintains clear policies for appropriate AI use. CoBy is in beta testing with ongoing feedback collection for improvements.
In Application
| Application | Vendor | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot Studio | Microsoft | Creating and deploying CoBy digital assistant with conversational AI capabilities |
| Microsoft Power Platform | Microsoft | Building MyFiles portal for permit tracking and low-code application development |
| GPT Technology | Microsoft/OpenAI | Natural language processing for CoBy's question-answering capabilities |
Sources
The City of Burlington embraces AI in its digital transformation
Launch of new digital assistant on City website provides enhanced customer support
Burlington launches technology pilot to accelerate permitting process for commercial buildings
Burlington pilot project uses AI to aid in building developments
AI pilot projects aim to streamline permitting process in Burlington
Related Companies
About AI Tracker
AI Tracker is a research project by Larridin, the AI execution intelligence platform.
Methodology: We analyze earnings calls, press releases, partnership announcements, and product documentation. All assessments are based solely on publicly available information—no private customer data is used.
Maturity Scoring: Each dimension is rated on a 4-tier scale (Nascent → Emerging → Scaling → Leading) based on evidence from public sources. Industry averages are computed as the median across all tracked companies in the sector.