In the face of climate challenges, urban technology isnt just about futuristic gadgetsits about the hard work of making cities more resilient and adaptable.Michael Samuelian, founding director, Urban Tech Hub at Cornell TechCornell Tech hosted its 4th Annual Urban Tech Summit on November 1920. Organized by the Urban Tech Hub at the Jacobs Institute, the summit highlighted the role of AI in crafting resilient cities. Topics ranged from extreme heat and flooding to building systems, energy, transit and clean data. The setting on Roosevelt Island, accessible via tram, added novelty to the event, flashing the theme of innovation from a location in which, as Samuelian aptly put it, everything feels new. The summit addressed the climate crisis with an urgency that resonated across an audience of policymakers, technologists, academics, planners, futurists, and community advocates. The two-day event was structured around two themes: Day 1 emphasized Hazards, Impacts, and Technology Solutions, while Day 2 focused on Building Resilient Urban Systems.The summit was held on Roosevelt Island, accessible via tram. (Courtesy Urban Tech Hub)Greg Morrisett, dean and vice provost of Cornell Tech, opened the summit with a call for cross-sector collaboration to address the future of cities. This sentiment was echoed by New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala in the opening keynote, where he proposed urban density as a climate solution. Aggarwala further emphasized upzoning, mass transit, green energy, and the potential of AI to drive change, urging an increased metabolism for change. The first panel Extreme Heat, moderated by Chethan Sarabu, director of Clinical Innovation within the Health Tech Hub at Cornell Tech, echoed an urgent tone. Speakers, including Mehdi Heris, Katie MacDonald, Anna Bershteyn, and Siqi Zhu, addressed heats disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations, highlighting tools and strategies for understanding and mitigating its effects. BetaNYCs Ashley Louie introduced FloodGen, an AI-powered tool that generates visuals to raise flood risk awareness and build community through advocacy. With over 1.3 million residents living in New York Citys floodplain, the ability to make climate risk feel tangible is critical. Discussions also explored AIs role in synthesizing diverse data to address urban heat islands, emphasizing its potential to enable equity-driven solutions at a community level.Among the topics discussed were how to deal with flooding and build with resiliency. (Courtesy Urban Tech Hub)The early afternoon panel, Flooding, moderated by Anushree Sreedhar, director of Innovation Programs at the Partnership Fund for New York City, explored the use of digital twins and generative AI to model and mitigate risks. Digital Twins, a panel moderated by Anthony Townsend, senior research associate at the Urban Tech Hub, elaborated on experiments, ethical challenges, and the state of harnessing digital twins for resilience. The day concluded with a keynote by Elijah Hutchinson, executive director of New York City Mayors Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. Hutchinson challenged attendees to broaden the conversation to include issues like noise and air quality, stressing that AI-powered tools can further improve government efficiency and collaboration through greater transparency. The second day shifted focus to building systems, energy, logistics, and land use; showcasing how AI, robotics, and automation can drive a resilient future as a partner. Panels on building, energy, and transit systems explored how these technologies are revolutionizing construction, maintenance, and urban planning to meet the demands of adaptation. Workshops and pitches throughout the day stressed the importance of innovation in energy systems and logistics, bringing in new topics like urban freight.One of the best product pitches of the conference, Vision-Based Automated Pavement Inspection Technologies for Bike Lanes, delivered by C2SMARTERs assistant director of research, Jannie Gao, employs the use of computer vision in a multi-sensor bike kit designed to promote rider safety. Added emphasis on electrification, new charging infrastructure, grid modernization and streamlined approaches to permitting further described economic imperatives on Day 2. Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development, delivered the summits final keynote, leaving attendees with an expanded notion of resilience in terms of critical infrastructure improvements.Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development, delivered the summits final keynote. (Courtesy Urban Tech Hub)Across both days, discussions emphasized the need for practical, scalable solutions. Whether it was AI-generated flood visuals or the application of robotics in construction, the recurring message was clear: Data literacy and innovative tools are empowering communities and encouraging informed decision-making. Ultimately, the summit presented an ecosystem of change-makers. It was provocative and left attendees with a sense of urgency, leaving lots to consider on a more hopeful tram ride backfrom a parallel universe where solutions to our biggest problems are rolling out.Allan Horton is a Brooklyn-based architect and regular contributor to AN.