Prof. Billington moderates panel at WEF Urban Transformation Summit
Urban Transformation Summit 2025 in San Francisco
Prof. Billington moderated a session at the World Economic Forum’s Urban Transformation Summit in San Francisco titled AI Boom, Urban Bust. The aim of the session was to discuss the ways in which the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is driving explosive growth in data center infrastructure, reshaping urban landscapes, and stressing energy systems worldwide. A major question considered was: How can cross-sector partnerships maximize the economic benefits of innovation while safeguarding environmental and societal well-being?
The speakers were Josephine Ndambuki, Chief Manager, Business Development and Innovation, Konza Technopolis in Kenya, and Jake Wachman, Chief Technology Officer, Innovation, at Schneider Electric in Boston, MA. Josephine discussed the Konza Technopolis flagship project positioning Kenya as a leading innovation hub through digital infrastructure and an ecosystem of researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors. Jake spoke about digital tools and software that strengthen grid resilience and flexibility and spoke to a vision for a “soft grid” that can adapt dynamically to AI-driven loads, while also stressing the importance of implementing energy-efficient building design that we know how to do well.