Manitobans are being asked to share their thoughts on artificial intelligence as the province considers whether to introduce limits to use the technology.

Public consultations have been launched to address growing concerns about the risks posed by AI, the province said in a Wednesday news release. Those risks include identity theft, deepfake images and videos, child-targeted manipulation, biased algorithms and the misuse of personal data in public and private systems, the province said.

The consultations will focus on modernizing data privacy laws and creating clear rules for the responsible use of artificial intelligence, especially when AI systems are used to make, recommend or influence a person’s decisions, the province said.

The results of the consultations will be used to help the province consider whether to set age limits to access AI, and whether it should require the private sector to ask for consent before they can access someone’s data.

The province will also consult Indigenous governments, young people, educators, researchers, municipalities, front-line civil servants, businesses, and private and non-profit organizations during the engagement.