Mayor Wan-An Chiang Attends the 2026 Taipei International Cities Forum “Technology Must Be Human-Centered,” Aiming for Taipei to Rank Among the World’s Top 10 AI Cities by 2035
Publish Date：2026-03-23Last Updated：2026-04-18
In his remarks, Mayor Chiang noted that last year’s forum was launched alongside the World Masters Games to explore health and sustainability. This year, the forum is held in conjunction with the “Smart City Summit & Expo,” focusing on how AI can optimize urban governance and improve citizen well-being. Mayor Chiang emphasized that technological applications must be people-oriented.
Mayor Chiang stated that Taipei has continued to expand its international connections in recent years. Last year, Taipei launched direct flights with its sister city Phoenix, which is known as the “Silicon Desert,” and has today signed an MoU with Dresden, which is known as “Silicon Saxony.” Both cities intend to cooperate on high-tech innovation, smart governance, talent cultivation, and youth exchanges, symbolizing Taipei’s active efforts to build a global innovation network spanning Europe and the United States—connecting cities and linking industrial ecosystems.
Mayor Chiang remarked that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is expanding its presence in the United States and Europe. He also noted that NVIDIA established its first overseas headquarters in Taipei. This is not only a major investment but an important vote of confidence from the international community in Taipei’s technological strength and development potential.
Mayor Chiang emphasized that although AI is built on past data, Taipei is more focused on creating future possibilities; this forum is not only a platform for exchange but a starting point for jointly “designing the future.” AI has become a common language across cities and cultures, and Taipei is ready to work with global partners to transform innovation into tangible impact, providing citizens with better services, more precise governance, and more sustainable urban development.
At the International Mayors’ Forum, Mayor Chiang once again delivered a speech, this time titled “Taipei: The Rise of a Global AI Powerhouse,” sharing Taipei’s practical experience in AI governance and reiterating that technological development must balance human-centered values. Taipei aims to be a smart, resilient, and sustainable model city for the international community.
Mayor Chiang discussed NVIDIA’s expansion into Taipei, likening the complex coordination process to the TV series “House of Cards.” He highlighted three key benefits of the company’s expansion: first, “talent magnetism,” which will attract global experts and industry partners; second, “global hub” status, positioning Taipei as a key node for AI innovation; and third, “symbol of trust,” reflecting international confidence in Taipei’s safety and resilience.
Mayor Chiang stated that “innovation is not a luxury but a necessity,” stressing that technology must ultimately serve citizens. He highlighted Taipei’s “Smart Green Corridor” and its integrated emergency care platform, both of which use AI to predict ambulance arrival times and automatically adjust traffic signals. This system saves an average of 42 seconds per trip while reducing accident risk by more than 60%. Additionally, Taipei is the first city globally to implement AI-powered electrocardiograms across its emergency network. This allows for real-time interpretation during transport, improving myocardial infarction detection; every minute saved in this process can increase patient survival rates by 6%.
Mayor Chiang shared a specific success story: last November, an American tourist had a heart attack while hiking Elephant Mountain. Using the AI emergency system, paramedics transmitted physiological data in real time, allowing the hospital to prepare equipment and medical teams before the patient arrived. This rapid coordination saved the tourist’s life.
Mayor Chiang also mentioned that Taipei won first prize in the developing economies category of the IEEE Smart City Contest last year. Furthermore, the city was recently ranked as the world’s most “sticky” destination, signaling that Taipei is not only a premier city but a place where people truly want to live.
The International Mayors’ Forum featured several international leaders, including Mayor Pablo Cawich of Belmopan, Belize; Mayor Dirk Hilbert of Dresden; Mayor Alex Yam of the North West District of Singapore; Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno of Dallas, U.S.A.; and Deputy Mayor Dilpreet Sidhu of Los Angeles, U.S.A., who engaged in in-depth discussions on urban governance and development within the context of digital transformation.