On the occasion of the 2025 edition of the World AI Cannes Festival (WAICF) and the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, a collective of Mayors and Presidents of Departments officially announces the creation of a network dedicated to implementing Artificial Intelligence solutions in partnership with the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI). This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative strategies and technologies within local authorities to enhance access to public services and address the major challenges of the 21st century.

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The network seeks to promote best practices that facilitate access to public services and encourage citizen participation. Its mission also includes identifying common challenges, such as responsible resource management and anticipating risks of shortages.

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As AI emerges as a key tool for tackling today’s major challenges, such as climate urgency and energy issues, elected officials aim to foster the development of ‘smart communities’ capable of integrating AI into public policies while protecting the environment and strengthening their attractiveness.

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In this spirit, the network plans to meet regularly. An initial series of meetings will focus on solutions proposed by scientists and deep-tech startups, including those from the JEDI ecosystem. A quarterly follow-up is planned to facilitate exchanges and measure progress. Furthermore, the elected officials intend to launch several collaborative projects to facilitate AI implementation within local authorities and to organise an annual summit where participants can share their progress and discuss future perspectives.

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The first edition of the AI Summit for Mayors and Presidents of Departments will be held during the 2026 edition of the World AI Cannes Festival (12-14 February 2026).

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Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department: “Since 2017, when I took over the presidency of the Alpes-Maritimes Department, I understood that Artificial Intelligence was a major tool for innovating in the service of our citizens and a real decision-making aid for our public policies. Today, by creating this network, we are taking a decisive step towards building sustainable solutions tailored to local realities.”

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David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes and President of the Association of Mayors of France: “For local authorities, especially municipalities, which operate in close proximity to citizens, embracing AI is more than a necessity—it is a duty to enhance public service performance and user experience, ensuring that AI is deployed while respecting individual freedoms and guaranteeing the security and sovereignty of collected and processed data. It is also a means to improve workplace well-being, reduce repetitive tasks, and increase productivity. Local authorities, like businesses, must rapidly adapt to integrate AI into their structures—not merely endure it, but master it.”

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François Sauvadet, President of the Departments of France: “Local authorities must fully embrace the potential of artificial intelligence to provide more responsive services, anticipate citizens’ needs, and ensure effective public resource management. AI is not an option; it is a strategic tool for building the territories of tomorrow. Departments are at the forefront of supporting the digital transformation of local public services, covering areas such as solidarity, territorial planning, culture, and heritage. This new collective momentum will enable us to move faster and further in meeting our citizens’ expectations.”

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André Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman & Scientific Director of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI): “With the expertise of over 6,500 technological and scientific leaders across 29 countries, JEDI is pleased to contribute to this initiative. Inspired by the DARPA model, our mission is to launch ambitious challenges that accelerate technological breakthroughs in critical areas for society. In the field of AI, we aim to massively reduce energy consumption, measure CO2 capture in agriculture, develop future factories, enhance wildfire anticipation, and advance new medicines and materials. This collaboration with Mayors and Presidents of Departments perfectly embodies our vision of a Europe that fosters competitiveness, public welfare, innovation, and resilience.”