The index evaluates cities across six metrics, including talent density, infrastructure, and citation share across major generative AI platforms. San Francisco leads the cohort with a score of 92.5, followed closely by London at 88.7 and Beijing at 87.0. While traditional factors like geographic history or climate once defined urban success, the ability to anchor frontier-AI labs has become the new benchmark for competitiveness.

Data highlights the stark divide between winners and laggards. Beijing currently directs 66% of its local venture capital into AI, while London secured £8.3 billion in AI investment during 2025. Conversely, cities lacking an AI anchor—such as Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Sydney—are experiencing stagnation or decline. Los Angeles, for instance, saw a population loss of 54,000 in 2025, contrasting sharply with San Francisco’s 0.62% growth. According to Ronn Torossian, founder and chairman of 5W, the gap between the top nine cities and the rest of the pack is widening, leaving other global hubs with a narrow window to catch up.