As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in daily life and workplaces, mental health leaders and technology innovators in Manitoba are calling for caution, policy, and a human‑centred approach to adoption.
Rita Chahal, Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, and Joelle Foster, President and CEO of North Forge, explored both the promise and the pressure AI is placing on individuals, organizations, and communities. Foster, who leads one of Canada’s largest technology incubators and fabrication labs, emphasized that AI’s perceived sudden arrival masks a much longer history. However, both agreed that public awareness reached a tipping point only recently.
Both leaders stressed the urgent need for policy and oversight, emphasizing accountability for creators and protection for users.
