Supporting the digital transformation of cities

How can artificial intelligence support the digital transformation of cities in a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable way? This is the question that experts, researchers, and representatives from the municipal sector sought to answer during the event Interdisciplinary Dialogues: AI for Cities, which took place on January 30th in Montreal.

In her introduction, Marie-Christine Therrien, Director of Cité-ID LivingLab, researcher at Obvia, and professor at ENAP - École nationale d'administration publique, invited the audience to reflect on four main themes:

• Responsible governance of urban data: How can we ensure responsible governance of data to improve decision-making in municipalities?
• Technological capabilities of cities: What resources and training are needed to support the integration of AI into local administrations?
• Sustainability and digital sobriety: How can we reconcile digital transformation with ecological transition?
• Urban resilience: How can AI help cities better anticipate and manage crises?
   

« Successful urban resilience relies on proactive technological solutions and proactive social inclusion. »

This event, which builds on the discussions initiated last fall at the Québec Innovation Council, reaffirms the importance of close collaboration between research and municipalities to develop solutions tailored to the realities of local areas. It is crucial to seize the opportunity of these emerging partnerships to co-create responsible digital transformations, so that artificial intelligence can become a true lever for progress in service of citizens.

We would like to thank all those who attended, as well as our invited panelists:
Michel Angers, Mayor of Shawinigan and President of the Innovation and Digital Transformation Committee of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ); Geneviève Baril, Co-Director of Strategy and Innovation at Cité-ID LivingLab; Julie Boivin, Mayor of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines and President of the UMQ Training Committee; Philippe Langlais, Professor at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Montreal; Carl-Maria MÖRCH, Co-Director of FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute.

 
Watch the recording