Collboni: "We want AI to serve the city, not other interests"

Jaume Collboni calls for the economic success of Barcelona to reach its residents. He stated this at the Forbes Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026, highlighting housing as a major challenge.

For the mayor of Barcelona, attracting investment in artificial intelligence is not enough if that activity does not improve the lives of those living in the city. This was expressed by Jaume Collboni in a conversation with former Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, moderated by Ignacio Quintana, CEO of Forbes España, at the Forbes Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026.

Collboni recalled that the Catalan capital ranks among the most attractive cities for investing in artificial intelligence, behind London and Singapore, according to a ranking cited during the meeting. The mayor believes the fundamental question is whether this progress serves the general interest or other interests.

"How do we put the success of a city at the service of the people of the city?"

The mayor defended that Barcelona is experiencing a period of growth, with employment evolution and average salaries above the averages of Catalonia and Spain. However, he warned that this prosperity loses meaning if it does not reach the citizens, pointing to housing as the clearest example.

According to official data from the Generalitat, the average rent for new contracts in Barcelona stood at 1,140.9 euros per month, a 4.4% decrease since the regulation came into effect. The City Council declared the city a tense zone in one of its first governmental moves.

The decision that most affects daily life is the non-renewal of tourist housing licenses in 2028. This affects around 10,000 flats that the council wants to return to the residential market, something that, according to Collboni, would equate to a decade of housing construction in the city.

"We prioritise the right to housing over the economic use of housing"

The municipal goal is to bring affordable and social housing to nearly 15% of the residential stock by 2050. Collboni explained that in the last three years, the construction of social housing has doubled and investment in rehabilitation has tripled.

The new areas of expansion in the city will allow for nearly one million square meters of economic space for companies, startups, and new productive activities. According to the mayor, the aim is to continue attracting investment without neglecting housing, services, facilities, and public transport.

For her part, Anne Hidalgo, who was 25 years linked to the City Council of Paris, defended the closeness of municipal politics to the everyday problems of residents.

"Mayors are a bit special politicians because we are out on the streets all day or working with people on very specific issues"

Hidalgo recalled that during her tenure in Paris, the priority was to prevent the rising cost of housing from displacing the middle and working classes, with social housing, collaboration with private companies, and improving city standards.