What is AI in City Management
AI in city management is rapidly increasing in popularity, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and decision-making in urban environments. From AI-powered chatbots for residents to smarter public transit systems, AI offers innovative solutions to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve the quality of life for residents.
What Is a ‘Smart City’
A smart city is a metropolitan or urban area that uses data and technology to improve the lives of citizens by making city operations more efficient and sustainable. This can be done through transportation, energy, infrastructure, waste management, and other daily city operations.
Smart cities thrive off data-driven insights. According to IBM, the U.S Department of Transportation has identified three key markers of smart cities: networks, connectivity, and open data.
- Networks consist of sensors or data collection systems
- Connectivity involves communication and interaction between city officials, the community, and city infrastructure.
- Open data means that there is transparency about how data is being used, the operations of the city, and any plans for the future.
What Is Generative AI for Smart Cities
Generative AI, driven by data, has the potential to transform city operations, urban planning, and city management. In a recent article, Forbes outlined several major shifts that generative AI could bring to cities:
- Predict and prevent problems before they occur, rather than reacting after the fact
- Find patterns and trends in data sets to gain insights into city operations
- Create solutions to specific demands or individual stakeholder needs
- Improve access to information, knowledge transfer, and accuracy for city workers.
In terms of practical application, generative AI has a plethora of use cases. Forbes writes that "the ability to optimize the urban fabric, the movement of people and goods, predict congestion hotspots, and suggest infrastructure improvements is just the beginning. "
Forbes also suggests that generative AI might make urban planning a more accessible endeavor. It could help citizens make light of building codes and zoning rules, as well as understand engineering protocols. Certain AI tools might also be used to generate mock-ups and immersive virtual experiences of future city environments.
Buenos Aires’ AI Chatbot: How ‘Boti’ is Changing City Services
In 2019, Buenos Aires launched an AI-powered chatbot on WhatsApp, called Boti, which enables residents to get immediate responses to questions for the local government.
Before the use of Boti, Buenos Aires faced problems that many large cities face, such as long waiting times and saturated communication channels, making it difficult for residents to get responses for their issues and demands. As a solution, they developed a chatbot that residents can query to get responses to urgent questions.
According to Microsoft, the chatbot now handles over 2 million queries per month, offering personalized interactions and adapting to individual needs. It can help citizens make appointments, get key information, renew driver's licenses, consult public transit schedules, and streamline procedures for entrepreneurs.
Buenos Aires has recently expanded the chatbot to respond to questions from tourists regarding trip planning, places to visit, and things to see. Boti is available in English and Spanish.
Singapore’s AI Revolution
Singapore is another leader in terms of AI adoption. After the launch of a government initiative to identify and address AI use cases, the Straits Times reported that over 100 GenAI solutions have been developed by various businesses and government agencies.
According to a report from Deloitte, mobility is one of the key areas where AI is being implemented in Singapore, with use cases in airports, mass transport, and traffic management.
In Singapore's Changi Airport, Deloitte writes that artificial intelligence is used "to screen and sort baggage, as well as to power behavior recognition technology for immigration clearance, thus enhancing border security and easing the experience for travelers. "
In a similar manner, AI is used in public transport to predict potential delays, disturbances, and overcrowding, as well as in traffic management to reduce congestion.
Tomorrow’s Cities, Today
Although AI in city management is still in its infancy, many cities have big plans for the future and are already taking the first steps towards full scale smart cities.
Yizhuang’s Smart City Vision
According to the same report from Deloitte, Yizhuang has invested over 7 billion yuan to develop "a cloud-based infrastructure that connects medical institutions across Beijing," which will enable "AI applications in smart medical services, including intelligent triage, pre-diagnosis consultations, and appointment scheduling. " Public hospitals in Yizhuang are being used as smart medical pilot sites to test AI solutions and develop improved patient care.
The city is also using artificial intelligence for a variety of other applications, including "a vehicle-road-cloud fusion system" which uses data from vehicles and roads to create a safer and more efficient mobility system.
The city hopes to enhance public services, drive economic growth, and address the needs of various industries using AI in the near future.
Lagos Looks to AI
Lagos, Nigeria is another city with ambitious plans to integrate artificial intelligence. The city faces challenges due to limited space, a growing population, air pollution, lack of infrastructure, and more. They are looking to AI-powered solutions to help improve public transportation, reduce traffic jams, develop infrastructure, and adopt smarter land use practices.
The city is just getting started with their project as the government lays the groundwork through funding, grants, and the installation of necessary infrastructure. In an article published by Optibus, it was announced that the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit will begin implementing a fully digital platform powered by AI to optimize public transport scheduling, routes, and ridership.
A Roadmap for the Future
Artificial intelligence in city planning brings solutions to the table for large-scale problems that many rapidly urbanizing cities face. As we look ahead at the future of metropolitan life, AI can help tackle problems from all angles, from sustainability to mobility, changing how our cities are planned and how we live in them.
