Artificial Intelligence in Smart and Intelligent Communities

John G. Jung delivered a keynote address in Taiwan on August 4, 2023. Unfortunately, due to a major typhoon, the event that day was cancelled. But it was nevertheless recorded for a future virtual presentation.

In summary, here are some of the points covered:

The topic of Artificial Intelligence is on everyone’s minds, especially since Open AI’s ChatGPT came online. What are the challenges and advantages of AI? We understand that there may be job displacement as a result of the deployment of AI, requiring job transitions and reskilling of some workers. Clearly, there are ethical, privacy and security issues. There will also be technical issues and errors that might occur, especially if the AI is trained on inadequate or biased datasets.  And a worst-case scenario might be where the AI system lacks any ability to make moral judgments that humans might make. These are all scary!

In reaction, over 1000 signatures of scientists and technology and business leaders signed an open letter asking for guardrails to be placed on any future research and development of AI before it is too late for it to be an existential threat to the human race. This is of course a serious matter.

It is a serious topic that will no doubt be covered by many, many other conferences, symposia, workshops and global assemblies and reports.

And it should be.

But it is not that side of the topic that we will cover today.

Instead, we will be examining the benefits that already exist through municipalities deploying AI for their communities.

So, what are some of these benefits of AI?

They are amazing transformations for our cities.

We are already seeing automation, removing repetitive tasks that lead to higher productivity and efficiency results. This is because AI can analyze extensive amounts of data quickly, leading to invaluable insights, and helping municipalities to make informed data-driven decisions. It fosters innovative solutions to complex problems, especially in previously difficult problem-solving areas such as in healthcare, financial services, mobility, and in other issues requiring strategic actions. AI could also help with surveillance, cybersecurity, detection of threats and support other safety matters. And it can lead to individual personalization and improved customer service experiences for citizens.

Today, responsible municipalities are investigating the AI challenges from security issues to how best to address traffic management and public safety issues. They undertake collaborative events and processes with experts and stakeholders to understand the implications of deploying the new technology.They ensure that inclusive decision-making has included everyone from government, business, academia and the community at large. And they ensure that all ethical, privacy and legal concerns are addressed, especially prioritizing citizen engagement. After all of this, communities should strategically invest in robust infrastructure and associated data governance, carefully evaluating all the benefits, risks and ethical considerations to establish the right policies and procedures that prioritize their citizens security, well-being and overall best interests.

So, there is much to unpack.

At the New Taipei City Smart City Summit on August 3, 2023, I presented a detailed overview of how 22 smart cities around the world are deploying AI to assist in the sustainability of their communities. The keynote address was entitled: Accelerating Development with AI Technology

My focus was on learning from international best practices in using technology, particularly using AI to create sustainability, and on how municipalities could improve their efficiency, decision-making, resilience, access to expertise, and collaboration opportunities, all leading to a more sustainable future for their communities. The topics covered included:

•           Improved Efficiency: By leveraging AI, municipalities can optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and increase the efficiency of operations. This can lead to cost savings and a more sustainable use of resources.

•           Better Decision Making: AI can help municipalities make better decisions about resource allocation, infrastructure development, and environmental management, leading to more sustainable outcomes and a better quality of life for residents.

•           Enhanced Resilience: AI can help municipalities anticipate and mitigate risks and adapt to changing conditions by analyzing data and providing predictive insights.

•           Access to Global Expertise: By adopting proven technologies and strategies from other parts of the world, municipalities can accelerate their progress toward sustainability.

•           Collaboration and Partnership: Learning from international best practices can also open up opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and identifying funding solutions. Municipalities can learn from each other and work together to develop innovative solutions to common sustainability challenges.

Want to have a voice in iCommunity.ca, the official newsletter of ICF Canada? Please send your blogs, announcements and other interesting content to John G. Jung at  [email protected]

ICF Canada   1310-20 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5J 2N8  www.icf-canada.com
Contact: John G. Jung at [email protected] 1-647-801-4238 cell

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