AI for adaptation: Can AI help us cope with climate change?

As part of the London Festival of Architecture 2025, Cornell Tech's Urban Tech Summit asks: Can AI help us cope with climate change?

AI-powered automation is already an important tool for cities' hasty work to bolster infrastructure and services for rapid climate change. But can artificial intelligence help cities listen more effectively and empower people to adapt on the ground?

This talk by Anthony Townsend, internationally-recognised expert on the future of cities and urban technology, will explore emerging trends and innovations in AI that may provide new capabilities for intelligent, participatory urban climate adaptation. It will be followed by a conversation with Julia Skeete of SOM, to discuss the role of the built environment in adapting to this change.

This event is in association with the Urban Tech Hub, Jacobs Institute at Cornell Tech.

PROGRAMME

18:15 Arrivals

18:40 Welcome from Chair

Nick McKeogh, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, NLA

18:45 Intelligence for Adaptation: Can AI Empower Communities Coping with Climate Change?

Anthony Townsend, Senior Research Associate, Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute

19:15 In conversation with

Julia Skeete, Senior Associate Principal, SOM

20:00 End

Download speaker presentations

Anthony-Townsend---Urban-Tech-Hub-at-Cornell-Tech’s-Jacobs-Institute.pdf

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Speaker biographies

Anthony Townsend

Senior Research Associate, Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute

Nick McKeogh

Co-Founder & Chief Executive, NLA

Julia Skeete

Senior Associate Principal, Skidmore Owings & Merrill

VENUE

The London Centre
3 Aldermanbury
London
EC2V 7HH

ACCESSIBILITY

There are 4 steps to the main entrance, with a level access entrance via the Guildhall West Wing approximately 200 feet away. There are toilets and accessible toilets via stairs or a lift to the lower ground floor. If you would like more information, or have any access requirements, please let us know what these are and how we can best accommodate these by emailing events@nla.london.