Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge has announced its 2026 winners, featuring 24 cities from around the world that have created innovative projects to improve their core services, many using artificial intelligence and community input. The winners, including South Bend, Indiana, and Pasig City, Philippines, will receive $1 million and expert support to implement their initiatives. The program aims to encourage bold and creative problem-solving in city governments.
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The numbers tell one story.
Twenty-four cities, $1 million each, and a dash of AI to solve local problems. Sounds like a familiar recipe for “innovation” in city governments. South Bend’s Mayor James Mueller uses AI to help residents in need, while Pasig City’s Vico Sotto builds floating parks to reduce flooding. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge is all about bold ideas, but also about who gets to decide what’s “innovative” and what’s not.
Author: Evan Null
