Did you hear about this new AI chatbot for Manitoba history?

Morning from the Central Plains — here's what's moving through Portage today. You know, we talk a lot about the future here, with the processing plants and the rail yards always humming. But sometimes, it's good to look back. Apparently, someone's cooking up an AI chatbot that's going to make Manitoba history easier to tap into. I heard they're aiming to bring our past, even stuff from the Fort la Reine Museum, into the future. That’s something.

### The Past, Served Digitally

Now, I'm a practical man. I like things that work, things that help. And if this AI can help folks, especially our younger generation, understand where we came from – the fur trade, the pioneers, the Métis stories that built places like Portage la Prairie – then I'm all for it. Imagine being able to ask a bot about the original land grants around Island Park, or the early days of the Portage Diversion. It could be a real tool, more than just flipping through dusty books.

* It’s about making local history accessible, not just for academics.

* Could bridge the gap for kids who grew up with a screen in their hand.

* Might even spark some interest in visiting places like the Fort la Reine Museum after they learn a bit online.

For us here in Portage, sitting right on the Trans-Canada, we're a hub. We've always been a crossroads, a place where stories and goods move through. If this AI can help us understand those stories better, and maybe even share the unique history of Portage la Prairie more widely, that's a good thing. It’s about more than just remembering; it’s about understanding the ground we stand on.

Darren Flett, MiTL Sports Desk, Portage la Prairie.

The crew on the morning show dives deeper into this kind of stuff every day. Catch 'em live at mornings.live.