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Mar 11
Projections indicate that by 2050, 68% of the world’s population, and 89% of the U.S. population, will reside in a city environment. This rapid urban growth – almost 10% in 25 years – places immense pressure on critical infrastructure and resources including water, electricity, telecommunications and transportation.
These same stressed systems produce substantial amounts of data, and that amount will only increase as more people move into an always-on community. City and county leaders can leverage this data to improve resource management and enhance citizen well-being, essentially making their cities “smart.” But are citizens ready for that evolution? And, do they have a sense of how the elements of a smart city can improve their quality of life?
The “smart city” concept is recognized worldwide as a way to address urban challenges. However, adoption has been slower in the U.S., and questions still remain among some residents about its potential benefits. For smart-city projects to succeed, it is crucial to understand whether citizens grasp how a smart city works, to know where they stand on AI’s role in future smart city development, and whether current civic initiatives align with constituents’ priorities.
We surveyed 2,000 U.S. residents to find these answers.
The results revealed strong faith in technology, with 67.8% believing AI can positively impact city life and offer insights into its most beneficial applications. However, significant knowledge gaps exist, as 33% couldn’t define “smart city,” and 61% expressed concerns about local governments’ responsible AI use. The full report, which you can download here, explores citizen-identified priority areas for AI implementation and offers a roadmap for officials and planners to prioritize use cases with the most public support.
Urban population growth affects large and small cities alike. The smart city approach may be even more critical to small towns, as a modest increase of 200 people puts outsized stress on limited public resources. The good news is that smart city frameworks apply to all cities of all sizes.
The “smart city” concept leverages technology and data to equip city and county leaders with insights that drive strategic responses to address the most pressing needs of growing populations. City and county governments are already turning to technology; their spending on technology is projected to be $61 billion for services and $14 billion for software in 2025.
A portion of that spend will be dedicated to AI and data analytics, following similar trends in the enterprise space. AI can parse massive datasets like those produced by municipal systems. But can a city or county use it to deliver positive outcomes?
More than two-thirds of U.S. citizens believe it can, allowing government leaders to embrace AI and accelerate their smart-city projects. However, they must engage the public to address the challenges that citizens prioritize.
Globally, AI has demonstrated its effectiveness at mitigating urban strain by integrating with IoT to create adaptable, smart infrastructure. This capability offers significant advantages to city and county leaders seeking to streamline resource management amidst rapid growth. Our survey indicates citizens already perceive AI’s positive impact on various aspects of city living, from healthcare and environmental monitoring to utilities and infrastructure. Yet it also reveals optimism for more significant improvements in the future.
Nationwide, our survey found that 67% of respondents believe AI will positively impact city life in the future, particularly in areas like traffic management, environmental monitoring, public safety and healthcare access. This aligns with similar findings from IMD and ThoughtLab, and the priorities reflect citizens’ top concerns and most significant pain points. With AI, however, respondents are optimistic that city leaders will be able to finally address these longstanding challenges.
Despite two-thirds of respondents recognizing AI’s urban value, their understanding of “smart cities” is limited. One-third of respondents were unsure how to define a smart city, while the balance were split between whether they would or wouldn’t move to one. These findings aren’t necessarily a rejection of smart cities, but rather a communication gap. By aligning technology strategies with citizens’ pain points and clearly articulating how these efforts contribute to a broader initiative, civic leaders can improve public understanding of smart city benefits and encourage greater acceptance.
It goes without saying that citizen-centric projects are the best supported. They can also be the most impactful. While technologies like AI offer the potential for new efficiencies and services, understanding citizen aspirations and concerns regarding these technologies is crucial for success. Addressing citizen needs and technological concerns increases the likelihood of a project’s acceptance and positive impact.
U.S. cities embarking on their smart-city journeys can learn from others that have paved the way. One key lesson: focusing on citizen engagement. Public involvement is a common thread in successful smart city strategies worldwide. It holds true in the United States, too. Public feedback provides valuable insights into constituents’ pain points and can generate new ideas for citizen-centric solutions.
Rapid urban growth is outpacing existing city systems. Municipal leaders must identify technologies to improve residents’ quality of life efficiently and cost-effectively. A crucial step is developing intelligent tools to capture, integrate and analyze the increasing volume of urban data.
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