Best Fractional Chief AI Officer Services in Canada

Canada Outsourced Chief AI Officer Agencies

In 2025, artificial intelligence will no longer be optional. But hiring a full-time Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is still out of reach for many startups, mid-market companies, and even some enterprise firms. Enter fractional and virtual CAIOs—senior leaders who plug into your business to drive AI strategy, policy, compliance, and implementation, without the full-time cost.

For Canadian businesses, the value proposition is clear: access to high-calibre AI leadership, exactly when you need it—without the pressure of a permanent hire. From managing AI product strategy to navigating ethical frameworks and scaling data infrastructure, fractional CAIOs are helping companies drive forward confidently in a fast-moving space.

At Digital Reference, we spotlight AI leadership that is technically credible, business-savvy, and radically authentic. This guide features standout Canadian providers who offer fractional CAIO services, helping organizations turn hype into action with measurable results.

🔍 Methodology: How We Chose These fCAIOs

Our selection process was grounded in:

• 🇨🇦 Canada-based leadership or clear operational roots in Canadian tech ecosystems
• ✅ Founder or executive visibility, with transparent LinkedIn profiles and track records
• 🌟 Client validation, use cases, or frameworks that show impact in real-world settings

We focused on providers that offer fractional, outsourced, or embedded CAIO leadership, beyond just AI consulting.

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Fractional CAIO Services in Canada 🔖 Provider Spotlights

Kearns Technology Inc.

🔗 Website: https://kearnstechnology.com/ 

What They Do:
Kearns Technology delivers AI implementation services, including intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and digital transformation consulting. They help businesses bridge strategy and execution.

Who They Work With:
Mid-market firms, government departments, and industrial clients seeking data and AI maturity assessments and solutions.

Operating Model:
Consultative and embedded model offering fractional CAIO leadership alongside agile delivery teams.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Practical and tactical focus on automating workflows with AI
• Reputation for clarity and client education
• Strong cross-sectoral reach across tech, public sector, and logistics

Hector Kearns, Founder, Kearns Technology Inc.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-kearns-7830678/

Hector Kearns is a seasoned digital transformation consultant and AI implementation expert. With experience in both government and enterprise technology projects, he’s known for turning strategy decks into working systems. His approach blends strategic foresight with a deep grasp of operational constraints.

Scale AI

🔗 Website: https://www.scaleai.ca/ 

What They Do:
Scale AI is Canada’s AI innovation hub, accelerating the adoption and integration of AI across supply chains, logistics, and commercial operations. As a federally designated Supercluster, Scale AI funds and supports major collaborative AI projects.

Who They Work With:
Large enterprises, academic research groups, and innovative Canadian startups looking to operationalize AI.

Operating Model:
Scale AI partners with businesses through co-investment programs, talent development, and ecosystem enablement often guiding CAIO-level leadership decisions at scale.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Largest AI-focused Supercluster in Canada
• Champions AI commercialization, not just research
• Plays a national role in AI upskilling and strategic adoption

Julien Billot, CEO, Scale AI

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienbillot/

Julien has over three decades of experience in the C-suite in the media and telecommunications Industries. He is now putting his passion of conducting  digital transformations, driving organizations to more customer centricity, and digital savviness to use with AI at the forefront of his strategies.

Duforest AI

🔗 Website: https://duforest.ai/  

What They Do:
Duforest AI helps organizations develop and deploy applied machine learning models, often using reinforcement learning and neural nets for industry-specific needs.

Who They Work With:
Enterprises and startups in energy, security, and SaaS domains with complex data science challenges.

Operating Model:
Hands-on delivery via fractional CAIO engagements, ML prototyping, and model optimization sprints.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Offers deep ML expertise, especially in model performance and architecture
• Transparent communication and fast-cycle iteration
• Trusted for technical depth without bureaucracy

Simon Kirkpatrick, Founder, Duforest AI

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wizzardry/

Simon Kirkpatrick is a machine learning architect and strategist with a strong background in neuroscience-inspired AI. Known for his clarity and rigor, he focuses on solving specific, high-value AI problems. His posts often highlight the edge where academic research meets practical deployment.

NuBinary

🔗 Website: https://nubinary.com/

What They Do:
NuBinary offers fractional CTO and CAIO services, helping startups and scale-ups build scalable AI and SaaS platforms with strategic architecture and leadership.

Who They Work With:
Early-stage tech firms, funded ventures, and digital health startups.

Operating Model:
Fractional leadership embedded in product teams, with flexible advisory tiers.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Known for building MVP-to-scale AI infrastructures
• Helps clients de-risk AI decisions early in product dev
• Toronto-based with strong ties to Canada’s innovation corridor

Sina Sadeghian, Co-Founder, NuBinary

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinasadeghian/?

Sina Sadeghian brings deep experience in product architecture and technical due diligence. As a fractional executive, he’s guided multiple AI startup teams through strategic pivots and scale-up transitions. He combines pragmatic product sense with AI fluency, making him a sought-after voice in Canada's tech advisory space.

Digital Fractal Technologies Inc

🔗 Website: https://digitalfractal.com/ 

What They Do:
Digital Fractal develops custom AI solutions across finance, logistics, and service industries. Their approach integrates predictive analytics and business intelligence into enterprise systems.

Who They Work With:
Enterprises needing legacy system modernization through smart automation.

Operating Model:
Bespoke consulting and project-based CAIO engagements.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Deep expertise in data visualization and AI system design
• Legacy systems? They’ve modernized dozens
• Clear communication and delivery frameworks

Souhail Alavi, CEO/Founder, Digital Fractal

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/souhailalavi/ 

Souhail Alavi leads a team focused on modernizing enterprise infrastructure with AI-powered insights and UX-centered apps. With roots in full-stack dev and AI architecture, Souhail brings a rare blend of product and platform leadership.

AI-First Consulting

🔗 Website: https://www.ai-first.ca/ 

What They Do:
AI-First helps organizations reimagine processes, products, and customer experiences through AI transformation consulting and CAIO advisory.

Who They Work With:
SMEs and enterprise teams looking to integrate LLMs and AI automation into core systems.

Operating Model:
Fractional leadership and training-driven engagements, often focused on internal capability uplift.

💡 Why They Stand Out:

• Spearheads LLM and GenAI deployments
• Equips internal teams to scale responsibly
• Emphasizes AI fluency as a cultural capability

Robert Newcombe, Founder, AI-First Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertnewcombe/

Robert Newcombe is a technology transformation leader with deep experience in enterprise consulting and AI strategy. Known for a vision-meets-action mindset, he partners with executive teams to deliver lasting capability around AI not just one-off deployments.

Cognico‍

🔗 Website

What They Do:‍

Cognico helps organizations harness AI to solve complex business challenges—blending strategic CAIO advisory with hands-on execution. Their approach spans AI strategy development, governance frameworks, and operational integration of advanced technologies.

Who They Work With:‍

Enterprises, scale-ups, and mission-driven organizations seeking to align AI adoption with clear business outcomes and ethical best practices.

Operating Model:‍

Fractional CAIO leadership combined with tailored consulting projects—ensuring clients gain both immediate solutions and long-term AI capability.

Why They Stand Out:‍

🚀 Balances innovation with rigorous risk and governance practices.

🧭 Deep focus on aligning AI with organizational mission and values.

🤝 Founder-led engagements ensure strategic consistency from planning to delivery.

Mehnaz Tabassum, Co-founder | Senior AI Consultant of Cognico‍

🔗 LinkedIn‍

Mehnaz Tabassum is a trusted advisor in AI strategy, organizational leadership, and ethical innovation. With a career spanning technology, business transformation, and people-focused change, she’s known for guiding executives through high-impact AI adoption while keeping teams engaged and future-ready. Her work reflects a rare combination of technical insight and a deep commitment to human-centered innovation.

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Final Thought on Fractional Chief AI Officer Services in Canada

AI is evolving rapidly and the gap between promise and practice is growing. For Canadian organizations ready to act, fractional CAIOs offer a high-impact way to unlock the power of AI without waiting for perfect internal hires. From strategic oversight to technical execution, these leaders drive results, fast.

Whether you’re embedding LLMs in your workflow, rolling out AI governance, or rethinking your data stack, the professionals in this guide have done it and can do it for you. Their radical transparency, proven impact, and founder-driven models are aligned with what Digital Reference champions: authentic innovation built on substance.

Looking for more guidance on your AI leadership journey? Reach out to us at Digital Reference. We exist to bring clarity and confidence to your fractional executive decisions whether it’s AI, data, security, or operations.

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