JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
At a sprawling urban exhibition in Baku, visitors pause in front of giant digital screens showing flood simulations, subway control systems and virtual replicas of entire neighborhoods. Around the world, cities offer visions of urban life reshaped through artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and real-time data – a glimpse of what many governments are now calling “the city of the future.”
A smart city in practice
Few cities illustrate the scale of smart city ambition like Shanghai. At the China Pavilion at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, officials showed how the city is using big data and artificial intelligence to build what they call a “Unified Management with One Network” platform – a large system that brings together transport, infrastructure, emergency response and public services.
Shanghai is also working to narrow the digital divide. Through the “One Stop Government Services” portal, citizens can access more than 3,500 public services online.
The city’s transportation system provides a glimpse of the future. The Shanghai Metro – one of the world’s largest, stretching more than 800 kilometers and more than 400 stations – relies on AI-based monitoring, 5G-enabled communications and predictive weather control technology to improve safety and reduce disruption.
Some lines already operate fully automated and driverless trains. AI systems monitor tunnels for cracks, water leaks and structural weaknesses, while vast amounts of passenger data are analyzed in real-time to prevent disruptions across the network.
Perhaps the most striking example is Lingang Starry Sky Sponge Park. Covering 54 hectares of land, the area combines cosmic-themed landscapes with state-of-the-art flood management infrastructure. Permeable pavement, underground filtration systems and intelligent drainage allow the park to absorb, clean and reuse up to 15,000 cubic meters of rainwater every day.
The smart city model was exhibited at the Urban Expo during the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Putting people at the center
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director PBB-Habitatwhich co-hosted the forum with Azerbaijan, warned that cities were facing multiple crises, from housing shortages and informal settlements to climate shocks and rising inequality.
“We really need to make the most of the technology we have,” he said, stressing that cities are still at the forefront of climate change, conflict and rapid urbanization.
However, he stressed, technology alone is not enough.
“The cornerstone of our work is that smart cities must be truly people-centered,” he said, adding that human rights, inclusion and equality must remain at the heart of digital transformation.
He also mentioned the risks of digital exclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of informal settlements have been cut off from education, services and remote work due to a lack of connectivity and digital access.
Bogotá, Colombia, is recognized as a leader in smart city initiatives, with a focus on digital transformation, mobility and urban sustainability.
Who actually benefits?
Even as cities adopt artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, some researchers caution against focusing too much on the technology itself.
“Most people understand smart cities as technology-driven cities,” Gynna Millan, an architect and urban researcher from Colombia, told us. He warned that technology can empower society or become a “tool of control”, depending on how it is used.
For many cities in the South – especially informal settlements that often lack basic infrastructure or reliable internet – the question is not just whether advanced technology exists, he said, but whether it actually improves daily life.
AI arrives at city hall
Artificial intelligence is quickly moving from pilot projects to everyday urban governance. “AI is no longer just a buzzword,” said Dmitri Atov, an adviser to the Moscow city government. “AI is a game changer for cities.”
Yining Zhao, project officer at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (That), outlines five technological trends that are shaping urban life, referring to Dr. Okan Geray, Chairman of the Steering Committee Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds:
- ‘World model’ — AI systems that simulate the behavior of cities and infrastructure in real-world conditions.
- ‘AI Agent’ — autonomous digital agents capable of planning and acting independently.
- AI in the physical world — through robots, drones and intelligent machines.
- Immersive virtual environment — a digital world for working, learning and collaborating.
- ‘Digital twin’ — a virtual city replica used to test scenarios in real time.
Moscow already operates one of the world’s largest digital twin systems. Updated twice a year using aerial photography, it contains more than 9,000 analytical layers used to model future traffic, infrastructure and development.
Risks below the surface
As cities become more connected, they also become more vulnerable. In Azerbaijan, authorities say cybersecurity is becoming important in urban development as smart technologies develop.
“Cyber attacks are not just a technical problem,” Aytaj Khalafli, a representative of the country’s cybersecurity agency, told us. Cybersecurity, he said, must be built into urbanization “from an early stage.”
The agency protects critical infrastructure, monitors threats, and performs penetration tests across government systems.
“If an attack occurs, chaos could reign in the country,” Ms Khalafli warned, noting that the transport system had already faced cyber incidents.
Throughout the discussions in Baku, UN experts stressed that trust, transparency and security must develop alongside innovation.
“Confidence today is no longer just a luxury – it is infrastructure,” said Nicholas You, Executive Director of the Guangzhou (China) Urban Innovation Institute.
Norwegian cities, such as the capital Oslo, are mostly powered by renewable energy.
Smart, but for whom?
The future of smart cities, UN officials stress, will not be determined by who has the biggest data centers, the most sensors or the fastest AI systems.
“‘Smart’ doesn’t always mean introducing digital technology or even innovation. Sometimes it’s about good planning, setting priorities and understanding how infrastructure is interconnected,” said Dmitry Maryasin of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
As examples, he pointed to urban greening projects, the conversion of highways into public spaces, and the growth of “active mobility,” in which priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists.
Ultimately, the question may not be about how smart cities can develop, but rather who they are designed to serve.
UN News is in Baku covering the summit all week. Follow along here.
