AI Interaction | Funding for AI Adoption and the Tools Defining 2026
Overview
A hands-on AI workshop for creatives to automate production woGet the inside scoop on the latest AI funding hacks and tools shaping the future in 2026.
AI tooling is moving faster than budgets can keep up. This session shows you two things: the funding and support available to help your company adopt and commercialize AI, and a clear-eyed look at the open-source tools putting professional-grade capability within reach without per-seat subscriptions.
Part 1 — Funding & Business Support (30 min)
What the program is, who it serves, and how it helps IDM and digital-industry companies adopt and commercialize AI. We’ll cover what support is available, what participation looks like, and how to engage, so you leave knowing your next concrete step.
Part 2 — The State of AI in 2026 for IDM (60 min)
A practical deep dive, split into the two areas that matter to a working studio:
Back office & productivity — A new class of desktop AI “co-worker” assistants that take on real production admin alongside your team (script breakdowns, scheduling, brainstorming, email triage), plus the open Agent Skills standard (SKILL.md) that lets you write a workflow once and run it across tools, with no vendor lock-in.
Production — A tour of the open-source projects now reaching production quality across asset and world generation, video, character animation, and studio tooling. The specific tools, and a look at what they can do, will be revealed at the session.
What you’ll walk away with
- A clear picture of the funding and support available to act on AI now.
- The open Agent Skills standard means your workflows stay portable across tools.
- Open-source options that deliver real capability without per-seat costs.
Agenda
8:00 PM – Event Concludes
5:30 PM – Doors Open
6:00 PM – Event Begins
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New Media Manitoba’s AI Adoption Project is funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies.
