Bold Technologies, in partnership with global AI firm My Aion, has announced a $2.5 billion initiative to develop an advanced smart city platform—Aion Sentia Cognitive City—set to debut in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi-based Bold Technologies, a subsidiary of Bold Holdings, has joined forces with international artificial intelligence company My Aion to launch an ambitious AI-driven urban infrastructure project. The initiative, valued at $2.5 billion, aims to revolutionize city management through cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
The centerpiece of the project is the Aion Sentia Cognitive City platform, designed to manage and optimize complex urban systems. Powered by Maia, an AI core engine developed by My Aion, the platform will oversee sectors including transportation, energy, education, healthcare, and digital services.
Highlighting its personalized capabilities, My Aion CEO Daniele Marinelli stated, The AI will know the user well enough to recommend the perfect place for your anniversary dinner and book it for you without you lifting a finger.
Strategic rollout and local economic impact
The project will initially launch in Abu Dhabi, with plans for international expansion. The platform’s rollout is expected within the next 18 months.
Structured under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, the $2.5 billion initiative represents a strategic public-private partnership approach. Under this model, private entities fund, develop, and manage the infrastructure before transferring ownership to a public authority after a set operational period.
Bold Technologies CEO Thani Al Thani Al Falasi emphasized the initiative’s contribution to the national workforce. “This initiative will support job creation for UAE nationals, foster local innovation and contribute meaningfully to the national AI ecosystem,” he noted.
Marinelli added that relocating operations to Abu Dhabi signals a strategic pivot for My Aion: The UAE offers the infrastructure and institutional support needed to scale responsibly and strategically.
AI and crypto: A growing synergy
The announcement comes amid growing interest in the intersection of AI and digital finance. On May 20, Catena Labs led by Circle co-founder Sean Neville revealed plans for an AI-native financial institution. The project claims AI systems gain significant advantages when integrated with stablecoins.
Meanwhile, at the Token2049 event in Dubai, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao remarked that “the currency for AI is crypto,” underscoring blockchain’s expanding role in supporting AI beyond token generation.
