Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University Announce Mayors AI Forum

First-ever global coalition of mayors will strengthen local government leadership in shaping AI development and deployment

Founding members include mayors of Bogota, Boston, Buenos Aires, Kyiv, London, Madrid, Nairobi, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Tokyo

New York, NY and Madrid, Spain - As artificial intelligence enters critical public and private systems, Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the launch of the Mayors AI Forum at the Bloomberg CityLab 2026 summit. Established by Bloomberg Philanthropies with Johns Hopkins University, the initiative is the first of its kind to bring together mayors from across the globe to shape how AI is developed and deployed-accelerating practical applications in government, working directly with companies as tools are designed, and shaping policy from the economic centers where its promise is consequential and its impacts are immediate.

"Mayors have often been early leaders on global challenges - even as national and international responses lagged," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., and three-term mayor of New York City. "Now, the Mayors AI Forum will help put them - and the communities they serve - at the forefront of conversations about the future of AI." 

In jurisdictions worldwide, AI is no longer emerging-it is an operational reality. Growth is accelerating: estimates suggest it could add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, while a significant number of jobs face exposure to automation, with shifts that will ripple through local economies, across labor markets, and in businesses and organizations small and large. Mayors are on the frontlines, integrating the technology to improve how their governments serve, while managing its broader effects across the communities they lead. As the officials closest to people's daily lives, they hold the clearest ground-level view of AI's real-world potential and challenges for residents from energy utilization to workforce implications. Yet the choices that will define AI-standards set by corporations, regulations written by legislators, frameworks adopted by international bodies-are largely made without them. The result is a widening gap between where policy is set and where it is lived.

The Mayors AI Forum, supported by the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins, aims to close it. Backed by world-class experts, the initiative gives mayors the platform to bring their frontline authority and insight to bear: engaging developers as systems are built, spreading proven use cases from city to city, and grounding national and global direction in local realities and needs.

"AI creates extraordinary opportunities for city halls to improve daily services and fuel economic growth," said Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google and Bloomberg Philanthropies Board Member. "That is why it is critical their leaders - the mayors and municipal officials closest to where technology meets the street - can help drive its trajectory. I am excited about the vision of the Mayors AI Forum to ensure local government is best positioned to harness AI in support of their residents."

"The Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins has an extraordinary record of supporting mayors as they work to deliver results for their communities in the face of systemic changes and challenges - bringing practical expertise and on-the-ground partnership to the frontlines of public service," said Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels. "As AI's far-reaching implications for society grow by the day, local leaders have a critical role to play from shaping policies to advancing innovative new approaches to city services and civic engagement. We're grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for their partnership in preparing mayors to effectively navigate this next frontier."

The Forum's founding mayors represent 10 cities across eight countries and five continents, home to over 100 million residents. These major metropolises - which are innovation hubs and regional anchors - are among the advanced adopters of AI in public life, deploying it across permitting, public safety, urban management, citizen engagement, infrastructure, workforce development, and service delivery. And these mayors bring demonstrated leadership to the effort. They include:

• Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

• Buenos Aires Mayor Jorge Macri

• Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko

• London Mayor Sadiq Khan

• Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida

• Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja

• San Antonio, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones

• San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie

• Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike

"Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping our economy and society. It presents real opportunities for cities - from driving economic growth to improving public services - but also brings with it new challenges, including the potential impact on jobs," said Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, UK. "Managing a technology with such formidable power will require all of us working together. This network will ensure global cities are shaping how AI is developed and deployed, rather than allowing it to unilaterally shape us. It will mean we are engaging with advances in AI proactively, rather than reactively. Working with developers as systems are built, the Mayors AI Forum will help our cities to navigate the transition, respond to economic disruption and unlock the full potential of AI as a force for good so that all our citizens can share in the benefits."

"Boston has long been a hub for technology and innovation-and that legacy comes with a responsibility to lead as new tools emerge," said Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston, MA. "Local governments must set the frameworks to shape the use and impacts of these technologies for the protection and benefit of our communities. The Mayors AI Forum is a unique opportunity to bring Boston's perspective and leadership into a broader global conversation, and I look forward to working alongside our peer cities."

"The launch of the Mayors AI Forum marks a pivotal moment in urban governance," said Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida of Madrid, Spain. "Madrid is dedicated to harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence to drive sustainable development and foster more resilient, inclusive, and forward-thinking cities globally."

"San Francisco is a global leader in AI. We are home to the companies, talent, and ideas that are shaping how new technology is used in our lives," said Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco, California. "In San Francisco, we are equipping our city workers with the technology and tools to drive our economic recovery and deliver more effective, responsive government services for our residents. I look forward to working with mayors from around the world through the Mayors AI Forum to learn from one another and ensure AI can continue to help government deliver better results for the people they serve."

"Confronting the reality of AI and its potential to advance solutions to local challenges requires we mayors move boldly, strategically, and compassionately or else get left behind," said Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones of San Antonio, Texas. "I'm thankful to Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University for bringing the Mayors AI Forum to bear - ensuring city leaders from hubs across the globe can elevate how it can be directed and used in ways that meet our residents' needs and build resilience within our communities."   

"Kyiv today is one of the most technologically advanced cities in Europe," said Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv, Ukraine. "Even amid the war, we continue to develop existing and launch new digital services for Kyiv residents. It is an honor for us to be among the founding cities of the Mayors AI Forum. This creates an opportunity to shape global approaches to the use of AI together with some of the world's most advanced cities, building on both their experience and our own."

"Buenos Aires is one of Latin America's top economic capitals, where decisions about technology don't sit on paper-they play out across millions," said Mayor Jorge Macri of Buenos Aires, Argentina. "Our team is integrating AI into how we work, but adoption alone isn't enough. As local governments accelerate resident-centered use, its leaders must have a say in how systems are designed and standards are set. The Mayors AI Forum, established by Bloomberg Philanthropies with Johns Hopkins University, provides the platform to assert that role."

"Nairobi is a city with many great resilient people who are constantly looking for solutions to address everyday problems," said Governor Sakaja Johnson of Nairobi, Kenya. "We are already deploying digital tools to transform how we reach residents, and AI will be central to where we go next. In the Mayors AI Forum, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University have set the right table: because the technology will only be as strong as the leaders who can inform how it delivers on the growth, opportunities, and tangible citizens need."

The Mayors AI Forum builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies' longstanding work to strengthen local state capacity through its Government Innovation program, which supports thousands of mayors and municipal leaders. This includes robust data and AI initiatives, including the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance and City AI Connect, delivered by the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence, that have expanded these capabilities in jurisdictions throughout the Americas and globe. The Forum's work, as well as the positions and research it produces, will be shared across this network of local governments serving hundreds of millions of residents around the world.

Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University will consider the addition of new mayoral members over time.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn,

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Media Contact:
Sam Fuld, [email protected]