Conspiracy theories falsely tie Maui wildfires to 'smart cities' and tech conferences

CLAIM: Maui hosted a conference about making the entire island into a “smart city” in January and will host another summit next month about using artificial intelligence to govern the island, proving recent wildfires were deliberately set to transform these ideas into reality.

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences in January was not about turning Maui into a “smart island.” It is an annual gathering focused on emerging issues in the information technology sector globally. Next month’s Hawaii Digital Government Summit, similarly, is not specifically focused on using A.I. on Maui, but about how governments across the state can better adapt emerging technologies. It also takes place on another Hawaiian island, not Maui.