OpenAI and Rockefeller back city AI projects with $50M fund
What's the deal? The Rockefeller Foundation and the OpenAI FoundationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → have launched Cities Deliver, a $50 million programme funding artificial intelligence (AI) projects that improve public services in cities worldwide. Grants of up to $2 million will go to organisations working alongside municipalities, with the initiative aiming to reach up to 100 million residents.
How it works: Seed grants of $500,000 to under $1 million will fund prototypes and initial city pilots, while scale grants of $1 million to $2 million will expand solutions that have already shown results. Projects target public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience, and civic engagement.
The catch: City governments cannot apply directly and must partner with an eligible organisation. They will not be required to provide matching funds or hold specialist AI expertise.
Anna Makanju, head of AI for civil society and philanthropy at the OpenAI Foundation, said the fund targets practical results. "The goal is to support projects where AI is core to solving a demonstrated problem, rather than projects experimenting with AI for its own sake," she said.
Why now? The programme builds on Rockefeller-backed projects already running: AI forecasts dengue outbreaks in Cali, Colombia; a messaging platform supports resident engagement in Cape Town; and AI assists flood response in Rio de Janeiro.
What's the endgame? Grants run for 24 months with no guarantee of renewal, so applicants must plan to evaluate outcomes, protect residents' data, and fold solutions into existing systems. Makanju stressed new tools should work alongside municipal infrastructure rather than force a costly overhaul.
Applicants can pick their preferred AI models, with no requirement to use OpenAI technology. Applications are open until November 29, 2026.
The signal: The fund marks a push to move municipal AI from experiment to scaled service, backed by two large foundations testing whether the technology can deliver measurable gains for residents.
Read more: cities-today.com
Image credit: tedeytan
