At the Bloomberg CityLab 2026 summit Tuesday, Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and former New York City mayor, announced the creation of the Mayors AI Forum. Its goal is bringing together the leaders of major cities worldwide to play a direct role in shaping how AI is developed and governed.
The move, spearheaded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, is believed to be the first of its kind to convene mayors to guide the use of AI. The founding group includes mayors from Bogotá, Colombia; Boston; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Kyiv, Ukraine; London; Madrid; Nairobi, Kenya; San Antonio; San Francisco; and Tokyo — cities that collectively represent more than 100 million residents.
“Mayors have often been early leaders on global challenges — even as national and international responses lagged,” Bloomberg said in a news release, adding that the forum will help position cities and their communities “at the forefront of conversations about the future of AI.”
Their role becomes especially relevant given that mayors are often closest to the day-to-day realities of residents, navigating both the opportunities and disruptions that AI brings. With that in mind, the forum is designed to give local leaders a platform to engage directly with developers, share use cases and influence broader direction.
The forum arrives at a moment when AI is now integral, not theoretical for local governments. In fact, estimates cited in the announcement suggest AI could contribute $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, while also exposing a significant number of jobs to automation.
The forum will have backing from experts and an existing network of cities connected through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ government innovation efforts. The work produced — ranging from research to policy positions — is expected to be shared across that network.
The idea of cities taking a more active role is evident in how participants are responding. In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu framed the effort as part of a longer legacy of innovation and mentioned the responsibility that comes with it.
“Boston has long been a hub for technology and innovation — and that legacy comes with a responsibility to lead as new tools emerge,” she said in a statement. “Local governments must set the frameworks to shape the use and impacts of these technologies for the protection and benefit of our communities.”
In San Francisco, where much of the private sector AI ecosystem is concentrated, Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted the connection between local government operations and the broader technology landscape.
The city is “equipping our city workers with the technology and tools to drive our economic recovery and deliver more effective, responsive government services for our residents,” Lurie said in a statement, noting that the forum will give mayors the opportunity to “learn from one another and ensure AI can continue to help government deliver better results.”
In a statement, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said addressing AI’s impact requires mayors to “move boldly, strategically, and compassionately or else get left behind,” indicating the importance of directing the technology in ways that meet community needs.
The forum could potentially expand according to the news release, with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University considering additional members “over time.”
