AI is increasingly becoming embedded in smart city technologies, but often these integrations are not obvious to the general public. However, the proliferation of Generative AI is making AI systems more accessible and relevant to people and stimulating new questions about data privacy, transparency, and digital rights.
Because urban technologies almost always involve industry-led solutions that operate in the public domain, addressing data ownership and governance issues is complex. Addressing the multi-layered issues surrounding these smart technologies requires thoughtful discussion, ideally between a collaborative group of city leaders, residents, and researchers.