Dr Mahendra Samarawickrama (GAICD, MBA, SMIEEE, ACS(CP)) is a leader in driving the convergence of AI, Metaverse, and Blockchain to revolutionise the future of customer experience and brand identity. He is the Australian ICT Professional of the Year 2022 and a director of The Centre for Sustainable AI and Meta61. He is an Advisory Council Member of Harvard Business Review (HBR), an AI standards committee member of IEEE (SMIEEE), an Expert in AI ethics and governance at the Global AI Ethics Institute (GAIEI), a member of the European AI Alliance, an industry Mentor in the UNSW business school and the University of Melbourne, and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Adopting a sustainable AI framework is essential for developing smart cities, ensuring safe and responsible AI, and aligning with long-term sustainability goals. At the heart of this framework lies the integration of ethical AI practices with data-driven innovation to address urban challenges while prioritising environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Smart cities leverage AI to optimise resource management, enhance energy efficiency, and develop climate-resilient infrastructure, reducing environmental impact and promoting cleaner, greener urban living.
AI-driven solutions facilitate inclusive decision-making, ensuring diversity, equity, and accessibility across all community sectors. Furthermore, sustainable AI enhances public health and well-being through intelligent healthcare systems, clean water management, and optimised transportation networks that lower emissions and congestion. By augmenting human potential through quality education and lifelong learning, AI technologies are applied ethically, fostering trust, transparency, and economic growth. This holistic adoption of sustainable AI frameworks transforms cities into productive, resilient, and inclusive spaces where technology serves humanity and ensures a high quality of life for current and future generations.