Unlocking the potential of AI for good in smart cities

The concept of Smart Cities has been gathering steam for several years now as a vision of urban environments transformed by cutting-edge technology to improve the citizen experience for all. To achieve the full scope of what Smart Cities promise, it will be important to leverage AI, and specifically AI for Good. 

AI for Good emphasises the ethical use of AI to enhance public welfare, address societal challenges, and improve the overall quality of life in urban settings. This concept is explored in full in SenSen's latest white paper, which focuses on exploring how Live Awareness can be pivotal to the AI for Good philosophy.

The Role of AI for Good in Smart Cities
AI for Good represents a holistic approach to integrating AI into urban planning and management. As the white paper outlines, it harnesses AI's capabilities in a manner that prioritise public safety, sustainability, and citizen satisfaction, all while adhering to stringent ethical guidelines. This approach aligns with global efforts, such as the European Union's AI Act, which seeks to regulate AI's impact on society by categorising its applications based on risk levels.

For one example of this in action, one of the most significant contributions that Live Awareness AI is making to Smart Cities concerns public safety. AI-powered surveillance systems, for example, can monitor urban spaces in real time, detecting potential threats and unusual activities with a level of precision and speed unattainable by human operators alone. Predictive analytics can further enhance these systems by forecasting potential crime hotspots and enabling law enforcement to respond more effectively. This proactive approach is improving emergency response times, and reducing the drain on resources by allowing people to work more efficiently, making cities safer for all residents.

Optimising Urban Mobility and Transportation
Meanwhile, traffic congestion is a perennial issue in many urban centres, leading to increased pollution, wasted time, and heightened stress for commuters. AI offers a solution through intelligent traffic management systems that analyse data from various sources to optimise traffic flow. By adjusting traffic signals in real time and providing accurate public transportation schedules, AI can significantly reduce congestion and improve travel times. In cities where SenSen has have been implemented such solutions, there has been a reported 30% reduction in traffic congestion and a 15% improvement in travel efficiency, underscoring the transformative potential of AI in urban mobility.

Improving Citizen Satisfaction
At the heart of any Smart City initiative is the well-being of its citizens. An AI for Good approach, as outlined by SenSen, prioritises the improvement of urban services, making them more responsive, efficient, and accessible. 

For example, AI can provide real-time information on accessible routes and facilities for people with disabilities, making cities more inclusive. Moreover, the transparency and accountability embedded in AI systems foster trust among citizens, ensuring that the benefits of technological advancements are felt across all segments of society.

Another good example of AI being used to improve citizen outcomes can be found in the white paper, and concerns an Australian local council. The council was facing significant challenges with trucks exceeding weight limits on certain roads, leading to frequent complaints and costly road maintenance. By deploying SenSen's SenFORCE Fixed, an AI-powered surveillance system, the council was able to detect and penalise non-compliant vehicles more efficiently. The result was a dramatic decrease in heavy vehicle complaints, demonstrating the system's effectiveness in delivering to citizen expectations.

Ethical Considerations and Privacy Concerns
Of course, AI for Good wouldn't be particularly "good" if it wasn't developed and implemented ethically, and the white paper digs into that, too. The deployment of AI, particularly in surveillance and law enforcement, raises concerns about privacy, bias, and the potential for misuse. The white paper emphasises the importance of adhering to AI for Good principles, which include robust privacy measures, transparency, and accountability. By incorporating these principles, Smart Cities can mitigate the risks associated with AI and ensure that its deployment serves the public interest.

As cities around the world grapple with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, SenSen's AI for Good offers a path forward that is both innovative and responsible. By leveraging AI to enhance public safety, optimise transportation, promote sustainability, and improve citizen satisfaction, Smart Cities can create environments that are not only technologically advanced but also equitable and inclusive.

Read more about the principles AI for Good and how it is delivering in smart city projects now here: