Cris Turner

As cities adapt to growing pressures such as climate change and population growth, urban leaders must rethink infrastructure, buildings, and energy systems to build safer, more sustainable, and future-ready urban environments. Built on today’s breakthroughs and tomorrow’s innovations, what lies ahead is both ambitious and fast approaching. Yet making this vision a reality will require the right funding models and strategic partnerships. This plenary explores what resilient urban infrastructure could look like by 2050, and how AI, energy systems, adaptive design principles, and new models of collaboration may reshape the future of urban life.

As cities seek to become more efficient, sustainable, and responsive, AI is emerging as a powerful tool to support better urban decision-making. City governments are integrating AI into their operations to improve forecasting, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen planning across key areas of urban management. The discussion explores how municipalities are turning data into practical action and measurable outcomes for better city governance, while also reflecting on the new opportunities AI creates for public decision-making, as well as the institutional and operational challenges involved in embedding these technologies into the structures of public administration.