Hyderabad, Feb 2: International Institute of Information Technology hosted the Urban AI Forum: Rethinking Cities by Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, an official pre-summit event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in partnership with Bordeaux Métropole, NASSCOM and iSPIRT. The forum on campus brought together policymakers, academics, industry leaders and civil society representatives to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cities.
The Urban AI Forum served as a platform for dialogue on how AI-driven technologies can enhance urban governance, sustainability, inclusivity and democratic participation. The event aimed to move the conversation beyond conventional smart city narratives towards a deeper understanding of Urban AI as a critical enabler of data-driven, citizen-centric urban transformation.
The programme featured two panel discussions and a thematic presentation highlighting global and local perspectives on AI-enabled urban development. The first panel focused on the applications of AI in smart city planning and implementation, examining how collaborative efforts among governments, industry, startups and academia can accelerate strategic, data-driven urban transitions. Drawing on experiences from Hyderabad and Bordeaux Métropole, panellists discussed how innovation and governance can help cities shift from reactive responses to proactive, predictive urban management.
The second panel brought together scholars and civil society representatives to address the ethical, inclusive and citizen-centred dimensions of AI-driven urban transformation. The discussion explored how cities can balance technological innovation with transparency, equity and accountability, ensuring that digital transformation benefits diverse urban communities.
A dedicated presentation showcased insights from data-driven governance initiatives between the India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX) and the Institut Paris Region. By integrating perspectives on data quality, interoperability and AI infrastructure with real-world use cases, the session highlighted how technical requirements for Urban AI intersect 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 reflects the growing importance of international collaboration in advancing responsible and impactful AI adoption. By convening stakeholders from India and France on a common platform, the forum seeks to expand the discourse from smart cities to Urban AI, emphasising democracy, sustainability and inclusivity alongside technological innovation.