In cities worldwide, artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming urban life, enhancing public services, and optimizing city management. The 2024 SmartCitiesWorld Trend Report explores how cities are leveraging AI across key areas, from citizen services to resource management and data privacy.
AI Supports Personalized Citizen Services
One prominent trend is AI’s role in delivering personalized experiences to residents. By analyzing data from various sources, AI systems can anticipate and respond to individual needs, offering services like real-time public transit updates or health reminders. An example is Madrid’s VisitMadridGPT, an AI-powered virtual assistant that tailors itineraries for tourists and provides practical information in multiple languages. Through tools like this, cities can significantly improve citizen and visitor engagement, helping local governments address specific needs with efficiency and precision.
AI Helps City Employees Work More Effectively
Local governments are also using AI to empower their workforces, enabling staff to streamline routine tasks and make data-driven decisions. For example, the Norwegian city of Stavanger partnered with Microsoft to develop a cloud-based AI platform, which helps automate data management across various city departments. Stavanger’s healthcare teams now access real-time data dashboards, enabling quicker, more informed responses, particularly during peak seasons like flu outbreaks. By reducing the need for manual data management, AI frees municipal employees to focus on complex, value-driven tasks, ultimately improving public service delivery.
AI Improves Urban Resource Management
In the domain of resource management, AI has proven especially beneficial for optimizing city infrastructure and operations. Singapore, for instance, has implemented an AI system to manage water levels, preventing flooding by releasing reservoir water when necessary. Using real-time data from hundreds of sensors, the AI system forecasts potential flooding up to two hours in advance, enhancing Singapore’s resilience to climate challenges. Other cities, too, are using predictive AI tools to anticipate resource demands in sectors like energy and waste management, which not only improves efficiency but also fosters sustainability by minimizing unnecessary resource use.
Cities Strengthen Data Privacy and Governance
As cities move more services to the cloud, data governance has become a top priority. Governments must protect sensitive information while complying with regional and global privacy requirements. AI-driven governance tools can support this effort. Toronto, for instance, uses an AI platform that classifies data by sensitivity and applies the right security controls. This helps agencies share information safely while keeping data protection at the center of their operations.
Ethical and Governance Challenges Remain
Although AI offers major benefits, the report notes that cities must still manage risks. Concerns about bias, data misuse, and transparency remain significant. Clear governance policies and open communication about how AI is used in public services are essential for building public trust.
Need Help?
If you have questions or concerns about global AI guidelines, regulations and laws, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight, and ensure you’re informed and compliant.
