Gillingham promises new committee looking at how Winnipeg should handle emerging tech like AI, data centres

Proposed urban technology review committee would be established in 2027 if incumbent is re-elected

Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham says he will establish a new committee to look at how Winnipeg should handle emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, data centres and driverless cars if he's re-elected next month.

In a Sunday news release, Gillingham promised to create a special council committee examining how Manitoba's capital should prepare for certain technologies, including assessing municipal regulations, permitting rules and the city's responsibilities around use.

The incumbent said the proposed urban technology review committee would be established in 2027 and look at things like e-scooters, AI, delivery drones, driverless vehicles and data centres.

The committee would consider questions like how the city can prepare its streets for increasingly automated vehicles or what rules should the city follow when using AI, the release said.

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"The point is to get ahead of these questions instead of dealing with them one at a time after the technology has already arrived," Gillingham said.

This proposed group could work with the city's public engagement committee to get residents' feedback before recommendations are sent to council, Gillingham said.

At least three outside experts would also be appointed to the committee by the mayor to serve as non-voting advisors, the release said.