Launching AI Nodes in Berlin and SF, with new grant updates

BoodleBox, an AI collaboration platform for higher education, has chosen Colorado Springs for its new headquarters. This move is expected to create up to 30 new good-paying jobs in the region. Colorado's business-friendly environment, lower operational costs, access to tech talent, and strong connections to colleges and universities were key factors in their decision. Learn more in The Colorado Springs Gazette, LLC’s article 👇 https://lnkd.in/ggtr_Gvc

It was fascinating to hear from German Otto Bodenbender, Clemens Lindner, Harry Spraiter, and George Guida at the xFigura webinar on the integration of AI at firms like BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and Zaha Hadid Architects. A powerful takeaway was the emphasis on using technology to extend our design capabilities rather than letting it dictate the creative process. The announcement that xFigura is now available as a plug-in for Rhino 8 opens new narrative paths for my own projects. Towards the end, someone asked BIG whether AI knowledge would soon be a hiring requirement. The response implied that AI fluency will move from a “nice-to-have” to a fundamental "must-have" It says a lot about how quickly professional practice is outpacing traditional education. Bridging that gap feels like the real design challenge ahead. #ComputationalDesign #DigitalTransformation #DesignInnovation

🎉 EuropeanCity2 Partner | Hybrid Core How can advanced computational design and AI-driven simulation empower democratic innovation?  That’s what Hybrid Core brings to EuropeanCity². Based in Belgium, HYBRID CORE specializes in creating interactive simulation environments that combine data visualization, artificial intelligence, and complex systems modelling. Within the project, their team leads the development of the simulation platform that forms the technological backbone of EuropeanCity². In particular, HYBRID CORE is responsible for:  🔹 developing the visual environment and user interface for agent-based simulations,  🔹 designing the large language model (LLM) proof of concept for enhanced interpretability of results,  🔹 building the runtime and reporting infrastructure that enables partners to test, compare, and analyze different democratic models in real time,  🔹 and supporting the integration of computational tools with real-world pilot data from cities like Aarhus and Bern. 👉 By combining creativity in digital engineering with strong scientific rigor, HYBRID CORE ensures that EuropeanCity²’s simulations are not only technically advanced but also accessible, transparent, and ready to inform real-world democratic innovation. Stay connected with us:  🌍 Website: https://eurocity2.eu/ I https://hybridcore.eu/   ✖️ X: @EuropeanCity2 #EuropeanCity2 #HorizonEU #ComputationalSocialScience #AI hashtag #Simulation #Democracy #HybridCore 

We're excited to announce our first wave of speakers for next year's AI/ML Conference, taking place February 17-18 in Austin, Texas! As the industry grapples with the growing and increasingly complicated landscape of artificial intelligence and machine learning innovations in AECO, the BuiltWorlds AI/ML Conference provides a space for industry leaders, decision-makers, innovators, investors, and solution providers to explore the lasting impact these technologies will have on built world ecosystems worldwide. At this time, we're thrilled to be joined by by: 🟣 Alfonso Oliva, AECO industry developer relations AI lead for NVIDIA 🔵 Darshit Jasani, innovation development manager at ARCO/Murray 🟣 Tonya Custis, senior director - AI Lab for Autodesk 🔵 Kushal Dagli, AI-optimization lead - data centers at Microsoft 🟣 Jean-Pierre Trou, founder & CEO of mbue 🔵 Deepti Yenireddy, CEO of Boon 🟣 Jonas Ebrahimi, CEO of Karmen 🔵 Sarah Buchner, founder & CEO of Trunk Tools 🟣 Miguel De Urquía Palacios, global AI program lead in construction for Ferrovial 🔵 Robert Leon, chief innovation officer for STO Building Group 🟣 Robin Patra, head - data, analytics & AI at Keeley Construction Group 🔵 Robert Otani, chief technology officer for Thornton Tomasetti Stay tuned for more to come! Learn more about the conference and take advantage of early-bird pricing: https://lnkd.in/gca3UDfE #BuiltWorldsConferences #AIMLConference2026 #AIinConstruction

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐨𝐟 Amazon 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Microsoft. Now, AI is shaping what comes next. CBRE’s new Scoring Tech Talent 2025 report ranks Seattle as 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝟐 tech talent market in North America — and AI is driving the surge. With nearly 185,000 tech professionals and one of the largest AI talent clusters in the U.S., Seattle is fast becoming a center of innovation again. What’s especially interesting: AI companies are 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞. Collaboration, speed, and problem-solving thrive in person — and that’s creating new demand for high-quality space across Seattle’s core tech corridors. Between the University of Washington’s research pipeline, a deep bench of enterprise talent, and a cost structure below Silicon Valley, Seattle has the foundation to lead the next innovation cycle — and redefine its commercial real estate landscape along the way. For multifamily investors, this means opportunity. As Seattle’s AI sector expands, so will the demand for nearby housing that attracts and retains top-tier talent. Markets near employment centers — from South Lake Union to Bellevue — are positioned to see meaningful rent growth and stronger absorption as tech employment accelerates again. The city’s always been built on innovation. Now, it’s being powered by intelligence. Check out the article from The Registry for more insights: https://lnkd.in/ewAVVYb8 #seattlerealestate #apartmentinvestments #multifamilyinvesting 

In the AI Arms Race, Community Can Be Your Competitive Advantage Earlier this week, the president of Bader Rutter and I sat down with the MKE Tech Hub Coalition for an interview. We pulled various topics out of a bowl and talked through them live. It was a fun, casual experience. One question stuck with me: "What role do you see yourself or your company playing in shaping Milwaukee's tech future?" That question is bigger than Milwaukee. It's about how we all navigate this moment. We all know AI is moving fast. It feels like an arms race, right? Everyone's protecting their IP, guarding their breakthroughs, racing to ship first. And that makes sense. Intellectual property matters. Competitive advantage is real. But here's what I believe: You can protect your competitive advantage AND lift up your community. Because the real threat isn't necessarily your competitor down the street learning what you're doing. It's the noise drowning out what actually works. Right now, there's so much hype, so much misinformation, so much confusion about what's real and what's theater. The organizations cutting through that noise aren't the ones hoarding knowledge. They're the ones sharing experiences, comparing notes, and helping each other separate signal from BS. That doesn't mean giving away your proprietary work. It means: 1️⃣ Sharing what failed so others don't waste time on the same dead ends 2️⃣ Comparing implementation approaches so everyone learns faster 3️⃣ Building local communities where people can ask real questions 4️⃣ Lifting up the collective knowledge so the entire ecosystem gets smarter Milwaukee's doing this. So is your city, if you look for it. Tech hubs, meetups, and peer groups exist everywhere. And they work when people show up with real experiences, not polished case studies. The companies winning with AI aren't always the ones with the best models. They're the ones learning fastest. And you learn fastest when you're part of a community that shares openly. Get out there. Join your local tech community. Share what you're learning. Ask what others are seeing. Your competitive advantage isn't just what you know. It's how fast you can learn what you don't. What tech community are you part of? #AI #TechCommunity #Milwaukee #EmergingTech #Leadership #Innovation #CollaborativeLearning

New report: Permission to learn Creating the conditions for ethical experimentation in public sector technology Across Australia, public servants are finding ways to experiment with emerging technology, from AI to digital service redesign, but often without the structures that make it safe to try. This report brings together insights from over 60 public sector professionals, technologists, policy leaders, and civic designers who joined us at Civic Tech dinners in Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. Inside you’ll find: ▪️ 7 system-level shifts to de-risk experimentation ▪️ Practical steps teams can take today ▪️ Case studies from Australia and beyond ▪️ What’s working, what’s holding us back, and what comes next We hope this report helps spark safer, bolder, and more supported public sector innovation. Download your copy here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g4Ey_eXP

Two fruitful days in Paris – it’s a wrap! 🇫🇷 On Monday, I joined the 5th OECD - OCDE Roundtable on Smart Cities and Inclusive Growth as a panelist. Many thanks to Hubert Beroche for the introduction and to Oscar Huerta Melchor and the team for bringing together such an inspiring group. My contribution adressed both opportunities and challenges for AI in urban development: 💡 There are opportunities aplenty • Co-creating with citizens – Using GenAI, we can instantly generate and adapt street designs together, instead of debating over technical drawings or unreadable maps. • Integrated policymaking – AI can help planners break silos by connecting policy documents, data, models, and research. • Making urban rules more accessible – Imagine asking, “Can I build an attic on my house?” and getting a clear, actionable answer: “Yes, but you’ll need a permit — here’s how to apply.” ⚖️ But there are serious challenges too: • Accountability – Cities must stay transparent about how decisions are made. The “optimal” point in an AI-driven model should be a political and social choice, not an algorithmic one. • Responsibility – What if AI gets it wrong? Cities like Amsterdam are working to prevent this through our risk assesment tools and algorhythm registries • Building AI literacy – Amsterdam is developing an AI Literacy Action Plan to ensure all employees understand what AI is, know its opportunities and risks, and can use it responsibly It was inspiring to see cities like Gent, Gelsenkirchen, Paris and Arezzo also navigating this balance between thinking strategically, yet also moving forward in a fast-changing context. Today I continued the dialogue with Marie Bernard from Nantes Métropole exchanging on our AI strategies. Nantes uses an AI compass that guides employees on when and how to use AI responsibly, pledging to improve human work, not replace it. And to top it all off, I visited PCA-STREAM, a pioneering architecture and urban design firm in the heart of Paris. Their research on public spaces like the Champs-Elysées and their work on Collective Intelligence is truly groundbreaking. Amsterdam’s AI Agenda 2025–2026 can be found here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eWC8pCGF #AI #SmartCities #UrbanDevelopment #OECD #DigitalTransformation #Amsterdam #Nantes #PublicInnovation

🚀 Big news for UK innovation! We’re excited to see the STFC Hartree Centre at Daresbury launch its new AI-optimised supercomputer, named Mary Coombs, delivering ~24.41 petaflops and about 10× the performance of its predecessor. This major infrastructure investment offers UK industry direct access to world-class computing power and AI/data-science expertise, opening up opportunities from drug discovery to climate modelling and advanced manufacturing. At Connected Places Catapult, we recognise that tackling complex urban, mobility, energy and digital transformation challenges requires this kind of foresight and toolkit. This facility is a game-changer for place-based innovation ecosystems and a strong enabler for regional growth and cross-sector collaboration. To all innovators, businesses and public-sector partners: now’s the time to explore how you could tap into Mary Coombs at the Hartree Centre, and turn your boldest ideas into tangible impact. 🌍 For more information: https://lnkd.in/e-Ci4CkN #AI #HPC #Supercomputing #Innovation #UKRI #HartreeCentre #DigitalTransformation #PlaceBasedInnovation

AI Facility Applications: Enabling AI-Driven Research in Building Design Artificial intelligence is transforming how research environments are conceived, designed, and operated. Stephen Blair, PE, LEED AP (Principal / Science & Technology Practice Leader), and Tom Clune, AIA, LEED AP (Vice President & Senior Project Manager), both from CannonDesign are showcasing how AI-driven design is advancing the next generation of scientific facilities. Thanks Stephen and Tom for a great session! #OpalGroup #CampusFacilities #LabsAndResearch #EduTechFacilities #HigherEducation #Innovation #FacilitiesDesign #AcademicInnovation #Networking #LiveEvents #Summits