- Urban AI Forum as pre summit of India AI Impact Summit 2026
- Urban AI Forum explores AI driven urban governance and cities
Hyderabad: The Urban AI Forum was hosted at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad as an official pre summit event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The event focused on rethinking cities by leveraging artificial intelligence. IIIT Hyderabad hosted the forum in partnership with Bordeaux Métropole, NASSCOM and iSPIRT. Policymakers, academics, industry leaders and civil society representatives took part in the discussions.
The Urban AI Forum brought stakeholders together to examine how artificial intelligence can shape the future of cities. The discussions focused on urban governance, sustainability, inclusivity and democratic participation. The forum aimed to move beyond conventional smart city narratives. Instead, it highlighted Urban AI as a key enabler of data driven and citizen centric urban transformation.
Meanwhile, the programme included two panel discussions and a thematic presentation. These sessions presented both global and local perspectives on AI enabled urban development. The first panel focused on applications of artificial intelligence in smart city planning and implementation. Speakers discussed how collaboration among governments, industry, startups and academia can speed up strategic urban transitions. Drawing on experiences from Hyderabad and Bordeaux Métropole, panellists explained how innovation and governance can help cities move from reactive responses to proactive and predictive urban management.
Later, the second panel brought together scholars and civil society representatives. The discussion focused on ethical, inclusive and citizen centred aspects of AI driven urban transformation. Participants explored how cities can balance technological innovation with transparency, equity and accountability. They also stressed the need to ensure that digital transformation benefits diverse urban communities.
Also, a dedicated presentation shared insights from data driven governance initiatives. These initiatives involved the India Urban Data Exchange and the Institute Paris Region. The presentation linked data quality, interoperability and AI infrastructure with real world use cases. It showed how technical requirements for Urban AI connect with urban planning, policy making and energy challenges.
As an official pre summit event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Urban AI Forum highlighted the growing role of international collaboration. By bringing stakeholders from India and France onto a common platform, the forum expanded the discussion from smart cities to Urban AI. It placed equal emphasis on democracy, sustainability and inclusivity alongside technological innovation.
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