April 13, 2026
Premier Welcomes Nobel Laureate Geoffrey Hinton to Manitoba
Premier Wab Kinew welcomed artificial intelligence (AI) pioneer and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton to Manitoba today.
“Manitoba is proud to welcome Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of artificial intelligence, at a moment when this technology is reshaping how we live, work and grow our economy,” said Kinew. “Our government established a new department focused on emerging technologies because we understand what’s at stake and provinces that lead in innovation will shape the future. As AI advances, we also have a responsibility to make sure it is used safely and ethically, including protecting children from misuse and harm online.”
The premier attended the University of Manitoba’s 2026 Distinguished Knight Lecture, given by Hinton on Monday, about the ethical dilemmas and existential risks of AI. Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist, is known as the Godfather of AI and became a leading figure at the University of Toronto, where his work on neural networks and deep learning helped drive today’s AI revolution.
The Manitoba government, through the Department of Innovation and New Technology, is studying the recommendations in a report produced by the Innovation and Productivity Task Force. The report offers guidance on building an independent, value-added economy to the benefit of all Manitobans.
- 30 -