SMART CITY EXPO

From algorithms that suggest to systems that decide and execute. What autonomous AI agents are already doing in the real world, and what it means for cities.

AI is moving beyond generating insights or supporting decisions, executing tasks, and interacting with complex environments with increasing autonomy. This session inquiries into what that shift means in practice, examining examples of how agentic AI systems are already being deployed across real-world settings and what their growing capabilities could mean for cities, institutions, and urban services. From autonomous systems, algorithms, LLMs, VLMs, to emerging forms of machine reasoning, the conversation will consider both the opportunities and the implications of AI that does not only assist but increasingly acts.

Where do cities actually stand on 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and smart networks? An honest assessment of current deployment and the connectivity gaps that still need solving.

Reliable, high-capacity connectivity is now a critical foundation for smarter urban services, real-time data use, and more connected public infrastructure. This roundtable discusses where cities stand in the deployment of IoT, specifically 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and smart networks, while considering the coverage, integration, and performance challenges that still need to be addressed to create digital infrastructure that is resilient, dependable, and prepared for future demands.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a defining force in the evolution of smart cities, reshaping how urban environments are understood, managed, and experienced. As AI moves from experimentation to large-scale implementation, cities are entering a new phase of transformation driven by data, automation, and predictive capabilities. Beyond efficiency and optimization, AI is also redefining the relationship between technology, governance, and society, raising important questions around trust, inclusion, transparency, and public value. This session explores how to harness AI not only to improve urban performance, but to build more resilient, sustainable, and human-centered futures.

Governments are using data, AI and automation to modernize institutions, deliver better public services and transform the way they operate – from the inside out.

The conversation explores the intersection of efficiency, citizen experience and societal impact by examining how technological innovation is helping governments become more agile, systematic, and responsive. Highlighting new opportunities for automation, streamlined workflows, reduced operational burdens, and stronger coordination across departments, the session will consider how these shifts are reshaping the way public administrations operate and deliver services. Building on this, practical applications and key challenges can be identified and examined to inform future action.

The way cities design, build and manage their built environment has changed forever. Digital tools are driving efficiency, reducing waste and unlocking new levels of coordination across the entire development lifecycle

Digital tools are fundamentally changing how cities conceive, deliver, and operate the built environment. What was once a fragmented process is evolving into a more connected, intelligent, and data-driven ecosystem, where design, construction, and operations are increasingly linked across the full lifecycle. This session examines how technologies such as BIM, digital twins, advanced simulation, and automation are transforming the way urban assets are planned, delivered, and managed, opening new possibilities for efficiency, coordination, and performance. In doing so, it reflects on how buildtech is contributing to a more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready urban environment.

Cities are rethinking how urban spaces are designed, built, and maintained in response to growing environmental, social, and economic pressures. Innovation in infrastructure, construction, and urban planning is driving a shift toward more sustainable, resilient, and adaptable urban environments. As cities expand and transform, the focus is moving beyond growth alone to creating spaces that improve quality of life, optimize resources, and respond to future challenges. The next generation of urban development will depend on integrated approaches that combine sustainability, efficiency, technology, and human-centered design to shape smarter and more livable cities.

Renewables, decentralization, geography and long-term resilience: how cities and regions are making the defining energy choices of our time.

As cities and regions confront rising demand, rapidly changing global contexts, and decarbonization goals, energy sovereignty has become a defining urban priority. This conversation explores what are the different possibilities when designing an efficient energy mix through renewables, decentralized systems, and context-specific strategies shaped by geography, resources, and long-term resilience. With a focus on energy security, new energy models, investment, and the clean transition, the conversation shows why there is no single path forward, but rather a need for diversified, reliable, and future-ready solutions.

How cities are anticipating, preparing for and absorbing escalating climate impacts: from extreme weather events to infrastructure stress and social vulnerability.

With increasingly complex shocks and stresses, cities must strengthen their capacity not only to respond and adapt to disruption, but to anticipate them. This session questions how urban areas are preparing for extreme weather events, infrastructure stress, and growing social vulnerability through more resilient planning, risk management, and coordinated emergency response. The discussion also explores how urban environments can mitigate negative effects of climate change, build resilience amid uncertainty, enhance coordinated emergency response and protect long-term urban prosperity.

Connecting AI and sustainability can help create greener, more livable cities, but scaling impact responsibly remains a challenge. The session explores how cities can use AI sustainably and equitably by addressing topics such as governance, partnerships, business models, data, carbon footprint, and accountability, while identifying the enabling conditions needed to build resilient, carbon-neutral and inclusive cities by 2030.

Cities today stand at a turning point, where climate change, rapid urban growth, and environmental shifts are reshaping how urban areas function and evolve. These changes go beyond daily experience, influencing the very foundations and systems that support urban life. As cities adapt to increasing uncertainty and more complex challenges, the need for innovative, adaptive and resilient solutions becomes more urgent. This session brings together cutting-edge and practical solutions that help cities adapt, transform, and stay ahead of emerging challenges, paving the way toward more resilient, sustainable, and livable urban futures.

Human-centered design, accessible public spaces and everyday services are not just amenities – they are the building blocks of belonging. How do cities create places where people genuinely want to live?

A city starts to feel like home in the small, everyday moments: walking down a street, sitting in a square, running errands close by. These experiences depend greatly on how public spaces are designed, managed, and cared for. When people come first, these spaces become more than functional; they foster connection, safety, and a shared sense of belonging. Increasingly, cities are rethinking how public space is planned and maintained, from accessibility and inclusion to the role communities can play in shaping and sustaining it. Creating places that feel welcoming, lived-in, and meaningful is essential to building urban environments that people genuinely value.

Urban health systems, social services and age-friendly strategies are redefining what it means to live well in a city – for children, aging populations and everyone in between.

Wellbeing in city is shaped not only by access to services, but by how care is woven into the fabric of everyday life. As populations age and social needs become more complex, cities are moving beyond isolated systems toward more connected approaches that link health, social services, housing, and community networks. This shift places greater emphasis on prevention, inclusion, and proximity, ensuring support is accessible across all stages of life. From child-friendly environments to age-inclusive strategies, the focus is on creating conditions that enable independence, connection, and dignity, while strengthening the social and economic foundations that underpin long-term urban wellbeing.

Urban livability is shaped by a wide range of cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors, making each city experience unique, constantly evolving. What defines a “good place to live” can vary significantly, yet there are shared approaches that help improve quality of life across different contexts. Taking a comprehensive view of society, addressing the needs of diverse groups across multiple dimensions, from accessibility and equity to public space and daily well-being. This session presents practical case studies and tangible approaches aimed at enhancing everyday urban living conditions.