This January, Presight proudly joined global thought leaders and innovators at the World Economic Forum in Davos to explore AI’s transformative role in addressing global challenges and driving sustainable solutions. Our participation underscored our commitment to leveraging AI for impactful change and sustainability.
Panel Discussion: “Smart, Safe, Sustainable: The AI-Powered City”
On January 23rd at 2:50 PM (Swiss time), our CEO, Thomas Pramotedham, took the stage at AI House Davos, for an insightful panel discussion titled “Smart, Safe, Sustainable: The AI-Powered City.” Moderated by Mina Al-Oraibi from The National, the panel featured industry leaders Juan M. Lavista Ferres from Microsoft, Guillem Martínez Roura from the International Telecommunication Union, and Dr. Anna Gawlikowska from Swiss AI AG.
The discussion delved into how AI can revolutionize urban development by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and citizen well-being. Key topics included resource management, environmental impact, and essential services like traffic and energy. The panelists emphasized the importance of community engagement and data privacy, ensuring that technology serves people.
Key Takeaways from the Panel
• Equitable AI Access for All Cities: AI solutions must extend beyond developed regions, ensuring nations in the Global South gain access to tailored, inclusive, and sustainable AI-driven strategies.
• The Power of Synthetic Data: Cities with limited data collection capabilities can leverage synthetic data to simulate demographic insights and infrastructure demands, enabling informed decision-making without costly data acquisition.
• Data Privacy and Security: Building public trust in AI-powered cities requires robust privacy frameworks to protect citizen data and ensure compliance with evolving regulatory standards.
• Integrated, Human-Centric AI Solutions: AI should enhance urban living by integrating services across transportation, infrastructure, and public utilities—placing citizens at the core of urban planning.
• Strategic Planning for Autonomous Transportation: The success of autonomous mobility relies on aligning public transport systems with advanced infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to ensure seamless integration.
• The Pivotal Role of Agentic AI: Agentic AI, with its autonomous decision-making capabilities, is set to revolutionize city operations—optimizing everything from emergency response to urban infrastructure management.
CEO insights with the media
During the week in Davos, our CEO Thomas Pramotedham spoke with the media about his insights on how businesses and governments can better use AI. In his interview with Aletihad at AI House Davos, Thomas highlighted how AI has become a key focus in global discussions, emphasizing its practical applications in addressing climate, societal, and business challenges. He also shared Presight’s AI-driven initiatives across Abu Dhabi and 14 countries, reinforcing our commitment to leveraging AI for sustainability and impactful change.
Speaking with Forbes Middle East’s Ramia Farrage, Thomas expressed his positive outlook on the company’s 2024 performance and highlighted AI’s transition from hype to large-scale adoption across industries and governments. He emphasized affordability, responsible deployment, and cross-sector collaboration as critical factors for AI’s success.
Looking Ahead
At Presight, one of our key focus areas is Smart Cities, and we remain dedicated to shaping the future of urban living through applied intelligence. We firmly believe that AI holds the key to creating more sustainable, efficient, and citizen-friendly cities. With Agentic AI, nations can overcome traditional limitations and reimagine urban living in a short time. Abu Dhabi is already setting the benchmark with an AED 13 billion commitment to becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027.
