At a huge urban exhibition in Baku, visitors stopped in front of huge digital screens flashing with flood simulations, subway control systems and virtual replicas of entire neighborhoods. Across the space, cities offered a vision of urban life reimagined by 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 reflect the scale of smart-city ambitions like Shanghai. At the China pavilion at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, officials showed how cities are using big data and artificial intelligence to create a “networked integrated management” platform – a massive system that brings together transportation, infrastructure, emergency response and public services.
Shanghai has also tried to reduce the digital divide. Through its “one-stop government services” portal, residents can access more than 3,500 public services online.
The city’s transportation system offers another glimpse of the future. The Shanghai Metro – one of the world’s largest, spanning more than 800 kilometers and more than 400 stations – relies on AI-powered monitoring, 5G-enabled communications and predictive weather-control technologies to improve safety and minimize disruptions.
Many lines already operate fully automated, driverless trains. AI systems monitor tunnels for cracks, water leaks and structural weaknesses, while vast streams of passenger data are analyzed in real time to prevent disruptions across the network.
Perhaps the most striking example is the Lingang Starry Sky Sponge Park. Covering 54 hectares, it combines a universe-themed landscape with advanced flood management infrastructure. Permeable pavements, underground filtration systems and smart drainage allow the park to absorb, clean and reuse up to 15,000 cubic meters of rainwater every day.
putting people at the center
AnnaClaudia Rossbach, Executive Director united nations habitatwhich is hosting the forum with Azerbaijan, warned that cities face multiple crises, from housing shortages and informal settlements to climate shocks and rising inequality.
“We really need to make the most of the technologies we have,” he said, noting that cities remain on the front lines of climate change, conflict and rapid urbanization.
But, he stressed, technology alone is not enough.
“The most important thing about our work is that smart cities really need to be people-centric,” he said. He said that human rights, inclusion and equality must remain at the center of digital transformation.
He also pointed to the risks of digital exclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of informal settlements were cut off from education, services, and remote work due to a lack of connectivity and digital access.
Bogotá, Colombia is considered a leader in smart city initiatives with a focus on digital transformation, mobility and urban sustainability.
Who actually benefits?
Although cities are adopting artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, some researchers caution against focusing too much on technology.
“Most people think of smart cities as technology-driven,” Ginna Millan, a Columbia architect and urban researcher, told us. He warned that technology could either empower people or become “a tool for control”, depending on how it is used.
He said, for many cities in the Global South – especially informal settlements that often lack infrastructure or reliable internet – the question is not just whether advanced technology exists, but whether it actually improves daily life.
AI comes to city hall
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from pilot projects to everyday urban governance. “AI is no longer just a buzzword,” said Dmitry Atov, an adviser to the Moscow city government. “AI is a game changer for cities.”
Ying Zhao, a project officer at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, outlined five technological trends shaping urban life:
- ‘World Model’ – AI systems that simulate how cities and infrastructure behave in real-world situations.
- ‘Agent AI’ – Autonomous digital agents capable of planning and acting independently.
- AI in the physical world – Through robots, drones and intelligent machines.
- immersive virtual environments – The digital world for work, learning and collaboration.
- ‘Digital Twin’ – Virtual city replicas are 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 over 9,000 analytical layers that are used to model traffic, infrastructure and future growth.
exposure below the surface
As cities become more connected, they also become more vulnerable. In Azerbaijan, officials say cybersecurity is becoming central to urban development as smart technologies expand.
“Cyber attacks are not just a technical issue,” Aytaz Khalafali, a representative of the country’s state cybersecurity agency, told us. Cybersecurity should be incorporated into urbanization “from the grassroots level,” he said.
Their agency protects critical infrastructure, monitors threats, and conducts penetration testing into government systems.
“If there is an attack, it could create chaos in the country,” Ms. Khalafly warned, noting that transportation systems have already suffered cyber incidents.
During discussions in Baku, UN experts stressed that trust, transparency and security must develop alongside innovation.
“Trust is not just a luxury today – it is infrastructure,” said Nicholas Yu, executive director of the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation (China).
Norwegian cities such as the capital Oslo are largely powered by renewable energy.
Smart, but for whom?
UN officials insist that the future of smart cities will not be decided by who has the biggest data centers, the most sensors or the fastest AI systems.
“‘Smart’ doesn’t always mean introducing digital technologies or even innovation. Sometimes it’s about good planning, setting priorities and understanding how infrastructure is connected,” said Dmitry Marysin of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
As examples, he pointed to city greening projects, converting highways into public spaces, and the growth of “active mobility”, where pedestrians and cyclists are given priority.
In the end, the question may be less about how smart cities can become, and more about who they are designed to serve.
united nations news is in Baku Covering the summit all week. Follow here.
