The Future of AI & Sustainable Cities: Strategic Foresight & Transformative

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, its implications for sustainable urban development are rapidly expanding – from data-driven planning too adaptive infrastructure, and from ecosystem modeling to equitable service delivery. This culminating session will explore the long-term trajectories of AI in cities and communities, focusing on how we can anticipate, design for, and responsible govern transformative innovation in the built environment. Bringing together a multidisciplinary panel of global experts, this session will examine foresight trends, systemic opportunities, and potential risks. We will discuss how AI might fundamentally reshape city systems, governance models, and sustainability frameworks – and what actions stakeholders can take today to prepare for a more intelligent and resilient urban future.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify key foresight signals and global trends shaping the future of AI in sustainable cities
• Evaluate how AI can drive systemic transformation across urban systems, including governance, infrastructure, and design
• Analyze strategies for integrating AI with sustainability goals while anticipating ethical, social, and environmental risks
• Engage with future scenarios and apply scenario-based thinking to navigate uncertainty and align AI innovations with long-term urban priorities
• Compare international perspectives to inform strategic planning, institutional readiness, and innovation pathways for scaling responsible AI

Speakers

Hubert Beroche – Director and Founder, Urban AI

Zhenia Dulko – Foresight Manager, American Planning Association

Eve Lin McNaughton – Director, Innovation and Research, USGBC

Emily Binet Royall – Senior Information Technology Manager – Emerging Technology, City of San Antonio

Tom Sanchez – Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University

Anthony Townsend – Senior Research Associate, Cornell Tech