New Global Government Forum event to explore AI use in cities around the world
A new event in Greater Manchester will showcase how cities and local governments are using artificial intelligence to transform the way they deliver services for residents and businesses.
The Global AI Cities 2026 event, being held on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June at Old Trafford Stadium in Greater Manchester, will share insights on how to build more responsible, resilient and responsive cities with AI.
City and local government leaders from around the world will share their insights on how to achieve citizen-focused AI transformation at the event, which is co-hosted by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is championing the event, said that the “ground-breaking event will bring together those working in cities and wider public services around the world to discuss how AI can unlock a new model of people-first, tech-enabled placemaking”.
Burnham added: “This event offers a truly unique partnership opportunity, one which enables the responsible harnessing of AI to deliver inclusive growth, improve lives, and ensure everyone can thrive in the digital age. We look forward to welcoming you to Greater Manchester.”
Speakers at the conference will include Christine Bellamy, interim director general, Digital Products Group, Government Digital Service, United Kingdom; Richard Henderson, corporate chief information officer, Government of Alberta; Phil Swan, director for government digital enablement, Government Digital Service; Rasmus Ry Nielsen, chief digital officer, Department of Technical and Environmental Affairs, City of Aarhus, Denmark; Dheeraj Singh, lead engineer, Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI), United Kingdom; Steven Fry, director of digital and customer services, Salford City Council; and Liz Scott MBE, director, Turing Innovation Catalyst Manchester (TIC).
Find out more and register for the Global AI Cities conference
Summit and conference to examine use of AI in cities
The first day of the event will be a closed-door, invitation-only summit, bringing together global digital leaders to discuss the realities of AI adoption.
The summit discussion will focus on how city and local leaders are using AI to create more resilient cities; how to get data right as an essential building block for AI; how leaders can build trust in AI to help government deploy it; and the skills that cities will need to make AI adoption happen.
The second day of the conference will be an open conference, focused on sharing insights for an audience of public servants on how AI can improve local services, how AI can contribute to local growth, and how data from cities can be made useable for AI.
Sessions will also look at how local governments can get AI procurement right; how AI is changing the cybersecurity threats organisations face; and how to boost citizen, and officer, trust in AI to help scale what works.
The event is free to attend for all public servants. More information can be found on the event website here.
Read an interview with one of the Global AI Cities speakers: ‘Don’t let fear prevent you from working on the problems that matter most’: Five minutes with Rafael Carvalho de Fassio, São Paulo state attorney for science, technology and innovation
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