Abu Dhabi is set to become the world’s first city to host a fully AI-powered cognitive urban ecosystem. The project, named Aion Sentia, will be developed in collaboration between Bold Technologies, a subsidiary of Bold Holding, and My Aion Inc., an Italian AI development firm.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, Aion Sentia aims to fundamentally reshape the way residents live, work, and interact with their environment.
A Leap Beyond Smart Cities
Unlike traditional smart cities that rely on static automation and fragmented data, Aion Sentia introduces a cognitive city model. This system will evolve and adapt in real-time by learning from residents’ behavior, preferences, and lifestyle patterns. At the core of this vision is MAIA, a proprietary AI platform capable of offering personalized citywide services through a single mobile application.
Daniele Marinelli, CEO of My Aion Inc., described the initiative as “a city that learns and evolves with its people,” driven by predictive AI, automated infrastructure management, and real-time energy optimization.
MAIA: The AI Assistant for Urban Living
MAIA will act as the central interface between citizens and the urban ecosystem. Designed as a cognitive assistant, it will integrate public and private services, including smart home features, AI-powered healthcare tools, and intelligent transportation management.
Unlike standard generative AI apps, MAIA is built on a graph-based personal profile model, allowing it to make complex decisions based on user context, history, and relationships. For example, MAIA can suggest and book a dinner reservation tailored to a user’s preferences, or provide personalized energy-saving recommendations without navigating separate platforms.
$2.5 Billion Investment
The development is backed by a $2.5 billion Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement, making it one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure projects in the region. The project is expected to support job creation, promote local AI innovation, and integrate advanced cognitive services into every aspect of urban life.
“Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to launch this initiative due to its supportive regulatory environment, advanced digital infrastructure, and openness to innovation,” said Marinelli.
Global Expansion Plans
Although Abu Dhabi will serve as the launch site, Aion Sentia is envisioned as a global export. Plans are already underway to expand the cognitive city model to major urban centers across Europe, the United States, and other regions.
“This is not just a smart city — it’s a thinking city. Born in Abu Dhabi, exported to the world,” Marinelli stated.
Workforce Development and Education
To support the national AI ecosystem, the partnership will also collaborate with UAE universities to roll out AI training and upskilling programs. These initiatives aim to prepare Emirati professionals to participate in and lead AI development, reinforcing the UAE’s long-term digital strategy.
Thani Al Thani Al Falasi, CEO of Bold Technologies, added, “This project not only sets a global benchmark in AI urbanization but also opens opportunities for UAE nationals and accelerates innovation across multiple sectors.”
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Afaq Wajdan Malik
Quelle/Source: pro pakistani, 20.05.2025
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