At a sprawling urban exhibition in Baku, visitors paused before giant digital screens flashing with flood simulations, subway control systems and virtual replicas of entire neighborhoods. Across space, cities offered a vision of urban life reshaped by artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and real-time data – a glimpse of what many governments now call the “city of the future.”
A smart city in practice
Few cities illustrate the scale of smart city ambition as much as Shanghai. At the China Pavilion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WU13) in Baku, officials showed how the city is using big data and artificial intelligence to build what it calls a “Unified Management with One Network” platform, a vast system that brings together transportation, infrastructure, emergency response and public services.
Shanghai has also tried to narrow the digital divide. Through its “Single Government Service” portal, residents can access more than 3,500 public services online.
The city’s transportation system offers another vision of the future. The Shanghai Metro, one of the largest in the world, with more than 800 kilometers and more than 400 stations, relies on artificial intelligence-powered monitoring, 5G-enabled communications and predictive climate control technologies to improve safety and reduce disruptions.
Several lines already operate fully automated and driverless trains. Artificial intelligence systems monitor tunnels for cracks, water leaks and structural weaknesses, while large streams of passenger data are analyzed in real time to prevent network-wide disruptions.
Perhaps the most striking example is the Lingang Starry Sky Sponge Park. Covering an area of 54 hectares, it combines a cosmic-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 each day.
Put people at the center
Anacláudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, which is organizing the forum together with Azerbaijan, warned that cities face multiple crises, from housing shortages and informal settlements to climate crises and growing inequality.
“We really need to make the most of the technologies we have available,” he said, noting that cities remain on the front lines of climate change, conflict and rapid urbanization.
But he stressed that technology alone is not enough.
“The most important thing about our work is that smart cities must truly be people-centered,” he said, adding that human rights, inclusion and equity must remain at the center of digital transformation.
He also pointed out the risks of digital exclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of informal settlements were deprived of education, services and remote work due to lack of connectivity and digital access.
Bogotá, Colombia, is recognized as a leader in smart city initiatives, with a focus on digital transformation, mobility and urban sustainability.
Who really benefits?
However, even as cities embrace artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, some researchers caution against focusing too much on the technology itself.
“Most people understand that a smart city is driven by technology,” Gynna Millán, an architect and urban researcher from Colombia, told us. He warned that technology can empower people or become “a tool of control,” depending on how it is used.
For many cities in the Global South – particularly informal settlements that often lack basic infrastructure or reliable internet – the question is not simply whether advanced technology exists, he said, but whether it actually improves daily life.
AI comes to town hall
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from pilot projects to everyday urban governance. “AI is no longer just a buzzword,” said Dmitri Atov, an adviser to the Moscow city government. “AI is a game changer for cities.”
Yining Zhao, project officer at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, described five technological trends shaping urban life:
- ‘World models’ — AI systems that simulate how cities and infrastructure behave in real-world conditions.
- ‘AI agency’ — autonomous digital agents capable of planning and acting independently.
- AI in the physical world – through robots, drones and intelligent machines.
- Immersive virtual environments — digital worlds for work, learning and collaboration.
- ‘Digital twins’ — virtual city replicas used to test real-time scenarios.
Moscow already operates one of the largest digital twin systems in the world. Updated twice a year using aerial photography, it contains more than 9,000 analytical layers used to model traffic, infrastructure and future development.
The risks beneath the surface
As cities become more connected, they also become more vulnerable. In Azerbaijan, authorities say cybersecurity is becoming critical to urban development as smart technologies expand.
“Cyberattacks are not just a technical issue,” Aytaj Khalafli, a representative of the country’s state cybersecurity agency, told us. Cybersecurity, he said, must be incorporated into urbanization “from the foundation stage.”
His agency protects critical infrastructure, monitors threats, and performs penetration testing on government systems.
“If an attack occurs, chaos may arise in the country,” Khalafli warned, noting that transportation systems have already faced cyber incidents.
Throughout the discussions in Baku, UN experts emphasized that trust, transparency and security must evolve alongside innovation.
“Today, trust is no longer just a luxury: it is infrastructure,” said Nicholas You, executive director of the Guangzhou Urban Innovation Institute, China.
Norway’s cities, such as the capital Oslo, are largely powered by renewable energy.
Smart, but for whom?
The future of smart cities, UN officials insist, will not be decided by who has the largest data centers, the most sensors or the fastest artificial intelligence systems.
“‘Smart’ does not always mean introducing digital technologies or even innovation. Sometimes it is about good planning, prioritization and understanding how infrastructure is interconnected,” said Dmitry Maryasin of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
As examples, he pointed to city greening projects, the conversion of roads into public spaces and the growth of “active mobility”, where priority is given to pedestrians and cyclists.
In the end, the question may be less about what smart cities can become and more about who they are designed to serve.
UN News is in Baku covering the Summit throughout the week. Stay here.