The BRICS Urban Future Forum, titled “Cloud Cities,” concluded on September 19, attracting a remarkable 13,000 participants from over 30 countries and regions. The forum concentrated on sustainable development initiatives for megacities within BRICS member states, emphasizing innovative urban solutions.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung presided as the honorary chairman, lauding Moscow's significant strides in addressing environmental challenges. American economist Jeffrey Sachs highlighted the impending concentration of megacities in BRICS nations and expressed a desire for strengthened cooperation between the United States and both Russia and China, advocating against the deepening of global divisions.

The event featured an array of discussions focused on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality technologies within urban planning frameworks. Daron Ajemoglu, a distinguished economist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, raised critical concerns regarding the efficacy of AI in decision-making processes, pointing out its potential to undermine human creativity and motivation.

A key highlight of the forum was the World Innovation Award ceremony, which acknowledged Moscow for its exemplary contributions to sustainable development, including initiatives such as the Pixel cleaning robot and eco-monitoring laboratories. Moscow secured the top position in the Urban & Innovation Environment Index, followed by Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Beijing, and Guangzhou.

Additionally, the forum unveiled the BRICS-250 Index, positioning Moscow as the third most prominent business capital within the BRICS consortium, trailing only Beijing and Abu Dhabi. The HSE Global Cities Innovation Index also recognized Moscow among the top 10 cities for its technological advancement and urban environment, alongside prominent cities such as London, New York, and Tokyo.

The discussions and presentations at the forum underscored the critical importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing the myriad challenges posed by rapid urbanization and technological advancement within BRICS megacities.