Smart AI Cities Asia 2026
Building Smart Cities with AI for a Sustainable Future
Overview
The 12th Smart AI Cities Asia 2026 builds on more than a decade of regional impact as one of Asia’s premier platform for city leaders, policymakers, technologists, AI innovators, and urban visionaries to collaborate, exchange ideas, and accelerate the evolution of future-ready cities. As Malaysia advances the Malaysia Smart City Framework, the aspirations of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), and the national transition from Smart Cities to AI Cities, this platform has never been more important. Under the theme “Building Smart Cities with AI for a Sustainable Future,” The 12th Smart AI Cities Asia 2026 will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping urban governance, infrastructure, mobility, sustainability, public services, cybersecurity, and climate resilience, while driving the development of intelligent, trusted, and people-centric urban ecosystems that empower governments, industries, and communities to build smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities for the future.
Registration
Registration for 12th Smart AI Cities Asia 2026
Panel Discussion
Mobility Without Drivers – The Race Toward Autonomous, Connected, EV Ecosystems
From autonomous buses and AI-powered traffic management to EV ecosystems, drone logistics, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), this session explores how intelligent mobility networks are transforming the movement of people and goods across future cities.
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
Speaker
Selva Nagappan
Organising Chairman, 12th Smart AI Cities Asia 2026 and Managing Director, Knowledge Group of Companies
Keynote Address
Malaysia’s AI City Roadmap – From RMK-13 Vision to Reality
This keynote examines Malaysia’s national strategy for AI-powered urban development, highlighting key priorities under RMK-13, digital government transformation, trusted data ecosystems, and opportunities for public-private collaboration.
Break
Morning Refreshment and Tour to the Exhibition Space
Panel Discussion
The Predictive City – How AI is Transforming How Cities Think, Learn and Respond
Cities are evolving from reactive management to predictive action. This session examines how machine learning, digital twins, and Agentic AI are transforming city operations and decision-making.
Presentation
Building Cities that Survive Tomorrow’s Climate: Resilient Design for Southeast Asia
SEA is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Urban heat, flash flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather are reshaping how cities must build. This session presents specific engineering frameworks, green corridor standards, and net-zero building codes being adopted by leading cities.
Presentation
Green Sukuk, Municipal Bonds and Blended Finance: How Do Malaysian Cities Pay for AI Infrastructure?
This session covers the mechanisms that actually fund smart city projects, green sukuk, blended finance structures, PPP contractual models, and how cities can access Malaysia’s green bond market.
Break
Networking Luncheon and Tour to the Exhibition Space
Panel Discussion
Powering the AI City – Smart Grids, Virtual Power Plants and Malaysia's Renewable Transition
AI cities consume enormous amounts of energy. Data centres alone are reshaping national grid planning. This session addresses the other side of that equation: how AI-optimised smart grids, demand response systems, virtual power plants and urban microgrids are turning cities from energy consumers into energy managers.
Panel Discussion
Mayor’s Forum: AI Cities – Designed for People or Designed on PowerPoint?
The session explores the gap between smart city visions and ground-level delivery, challenging whether Malaysia is importing Western TOD models that ignore local climate, culture, and community realities. The forum debates equity, participation, and what “people-first” urban AI actually means in Malaysia.
Presentation
Physical AI and Harness Engineering for a Smart City: Not Only Predictable but Also Controllable
Building on successful AI and IoT initiatives, Taipei is transforming into a Physical AI city where digital twins and Agentic AI enable predictive, governable, and real-world urban decision-making.
Speaker
Prof. Da Sheng Lee
Director, Taipei Smart City Project Management Office, Taiwan
Fireside Chat
Will AI Cities Create Smarter Communities or Deepen Inequality?
As cities become smarter, who truly benefits? This discussion challenges whether AI-driven urban transformation will empower communities and improve equity, or it will deepen digital divides, exclusion, and uneven access to opportunity.