Published on: 2026-05-21
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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From transport systems based on artificial intelligence and digital twins to parking lots protected against flooding – modern megacities are implementing technologies on an unprecedented scale. However, against the backdrop of accelerated innovative urban development, experts warn: the defining factor for whether these technologies will bring real benefits will be principles such as inclusiveness, safety, and also the trust of city residents in these innovations.
At the large-scale urban exhibition in Baku, visitors froze in front of gigantic digital screens. On them, simulations of floods alternated with images of metro management systems and virtual copies of entire residential neighborhoods. On this platform, cities from around the world presented their vision of the future, where life is transformed through artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and data received in real time. It is precisely in this way that governments of many countries today envision the “city of the future.”
Shan’s Experience
Few megacities in the world illustrate the scale of ambitions in the field of smart cities as vividly as Shanghai. At the Chinese pavilion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, officials demonstrated how the city uses big data and AI to create a unified network management platform. This system integrates transport, infrastructure, emergency services, and government services.
At the same time, Shanghai strives to overcome the digital divide. Through the city government services portal, operating on the principle of “one-stop service,” residents can access more than 3,500 different services online.
The Shenzhen transport system is another window into the future. Shenzhen metro is one of the largest in the world: it has more than 400 stations, and the total track length exceeds 800 kilometers. Safety here is ensured, and disruptions are minimized thanks to monitoring based on AI, 5G standard communication, and predictive climate control technologies.
Several metro lines are already operating fully in automatic mode, without drivers. AI systems scan tunnels for cracks, water leaks, and structural damage, and passenger flow data is analyzed in real time, which allows preventing collapses across the entire network.
Probably the most impressive example is the “sponge” park (Sponge Park) “Lingang Starry Sky”. On an area of 54 hectares, a cosmic landscape design combines advanced water resource management technologies. Thanks to the permeable pavement of the paths, the underground filtration systems, and smart drainage, the park is able to absorb, purify, and recycle up to 15 thousand cubic meters of rainwater daily.
In the center of attention – the person
Anaklaudiya Rossba, Executive Director of UN-Habitat (the UN Program for Human Settlements, co-organizer of the forum together with Azerbaijan), warned that modern cities face numerous problems: from housing shortages and the growth of slums to extreme weather events.
“We need to use all available technologies to the maximum,” she noted.
However, Rosspassport emphasized that the technologies alone are insufficient.
“The most important thing is that smart cities should be human-centered,” he said, explaining that human rights, inclusiveness, and social equality must remain the main guidelines of the digital transformation.
She also pointed out the problem of digital isolation. During the pandemicCOVID-19Many residents of informal settlements (slums) found themselves cut off from the education system and basic services; they had no opportunity to work “remotely”—simply due to the lack of internet and access to digital technologies.
Who actually wins from technologies?
And still, while cities actively implement artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, some researchers urge not to focus exclusively on the technical side of the issue.
“Most people understand ‘smart city’ as something managed exclusively by technologies,” said Jinny Millian, an architect and urban researcher from Columbia, in an interview with the UN News Service. She warned that depending on how the technology is used, it can either expand people’s capabilities or become a “tool of total control.”
For many cities of the Global South – especially for informal settlements where there is often no basic infrastructure or stable internet – the question is not about the very existence of advanced technologies, but whether they can really improve the everyday lives of people.
II audits at the city hall
Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving beyond pilot project stages and becoming part of everyday urban management. “AI is no longer just a trendy buzzword,” says Dmitry Atov, advisor to the Moscow government. “AI fundamentally changes the rules of the game for cities.”
Yinin Chjao, representative of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, highlighted five key technological trends that shape the face of modern urban life:
- “World models” are AI systems that model the behavior of cities and infrastructure in real conditions.
- Agentic AI – autonomous digital agents capable of independently planning actions and making decisions.
- AI in the physical world – robots, drones, and smart technology.
- Immersive virtual environments – digital worlds for work, study, and collaborative projects.
- “Digital twins” are virtual copies of cities used to test various scenarios in real time.
One of the largest digital twin systems in the world is already operational in Moscow. It is updated twice a year based on aerial photography and contains more than 9,000 analytical layers, which are used for modeling traffic flows, planning infrastructure, and prospective development.
Hidden threats
The stronger the cities depend on digital connectivity, the more vulnerable they become. In Azerbaijan, officials state that as smart technologies are implemented, cybersecurity becomes a key element of urban development.
“Cyberattacks are not just a technical problem,” noted Aytadzh Khalafli, a representative of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Security of Azerbaijan, in a conversation with us. According to her, cybersecurity must be embedded in urbanization projects “right at the foundation stage.”
This agency is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, monitoring threats, and conducting penetration testing in state systems.
“In the event of a successful attack, chaos may begin in the country,” Halafli warned, reminding that transport systems have already become a target for cyberattacks.
In a series of discussions in Baku, UN experts repeatedly emphasized: trust, transparency, and security must develop in parallel with innovations.
“Today, trust is no longer a luxury, it is an element of infrastructure,” summarized Nicolas R., Executive Director of the Guangzhou Institute of Urban Innovation (China).
Not just smart, but also comfortable for everyone
The future of smart cities, as emphasized by the UN, will be determined not by who has more data centers, a larger network of sensors, or faster artificial intelligence.
“The concept of ‘smart’ does not always mean the mandatory implementation of digital technologies or innovations. Sometimes it’s about competent planning, correct prioritization, and understanding how urban infrastructure is interconnected,” noted Dmitry Maryasin, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
As examples, he cited city greening projects, the transformation of highways into public spaces, and the development of “active mobility,” where priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists.
In the end, the main question is not how smart our cities can become, but for whom they are created.
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