The importance (and challenges) of AI in the life of smart cities
Artificial Intelligence has become a large part of modern life over the past decade, and it makes no exception in the role it plays in the evolution of a smart city. Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI) are interlinked. AI refers to various methods for using a non-human system to learn from experience and imitate human intelligent behaviour. It can efficiently sift through large quantities of Big Data to generate predictions and cost-effective solutions to fuel Smart City technologies.
AI helps cities to reconfigure themselves in more sustainable ways and focusing on a higher quality of life for people. We’ve seen its effect in more than one area of a city’s structure: from renewable energy resources, to its contribution to roads, time series forecasting, and even developing new business models.
On the other hand, a recent, global Smart City competition highlighted China’s rise in AI, with new technologies aimed at improving various aspects of everyday urban life. Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu swept the AI City Challenge, beating competitors from nearly 40 nations - and while showing off incredible progress in this arena, it also brought a number of challenges to the table.
China already has half of the world’s smart cities, and all the investments made by the Chinese government over the last few years can be seen in the increased use of edge computing, cameras, 5G wireless connection sensors, and surveillance tech. Counting the number of cars on the road helps civic engineers understand the resources required to support roads and bridges, but it raises concerns over how tracking a vehicle across multiple live camera feeds can also be a powerful form of surveillance.
Artificial Intelligence can be used in many ways inside the development of smart cities, but as I’ve mentioned in previous articles, AI and smart city development mean nothing without public trust and the ability to implement these advances ethically and safely. Whether we’re talking about public transit, where AI can help city officials make better choices when modifying public transport routes and timing, as well as making the overall experience of urban transport more harmonious for users, or in terms of public safety, where the tech behind AI can easily contribute to lowering crime rates, as well as measure and develop predictive measures, the concerns about wrongful use are both real and valid.
AI, as a data-driven approach to improving life within our communities, needs to also have safety as one of its paramount priorities. Data is a powerful tool, and should be protected by the same type of regulations and ethical codes that we see in other industries. Scandals like the recent Pegasus spyware leak show us exactly why - and we should treat this as a wake-up call towards building a safer, more prosperous AI world to the benefit of citizens.
