Webinar (29 Sept): How data and AI support better decisions to bolster city operations

SmartCitiesWorld webinar will explore how local authorities can strengthen workforce decision-making by combining unified data, agentic AI and secure digital foundations.

OnDemand Panel Discussion: Resilient infrastructure – planning, prioritising and protecting critical assets

In this SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026 virtual panel discussion, discover how cities can move towards a more strategic, risk-based approach to infrastructure resilience.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: connecting climate action, resilience and urban innovation

As cities confront the combined pressures of climate change, infrastructure resilience and digital transformation, the SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026 will bring together urban leaders and partners during London Climate Action Week to explore how these agendas intersect – and how cities can translate strategy into practical action.

How AI cities shape Malaysia’s digital future – and the role of the region’s first Smart City ExpoSponsored by Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur

Discover how Malaysia is leading the way in AI-powered urban innovation at the first Southeast Asian Smart City Expo in Kuala Lumpur.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Singapore

Find out how the island city-state of Singapore is further building its reputation as one of the smartest nations in the world in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland

Find out how Sunderland is repositioning itself as a leading smart city – using digital infrastructure and low-carbon innovation to build a resilient, future-focused economy in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Podcasts

Podcast: Tracking the journey from smart cities to AI cities (part two)

Re-join our in-depth conversation with Professor Jung Hoon Lee, exploring how AI is moving from pilots to real-world impact in cities worldwide.

Podcast: Tracking the journey from smart cities to AI cities (part one)

Professor Jung Hoon Lee joins the SmartCitiesWorld Podcast to talk the latest Global Smart City Index, the emerging “AI super gap” between cities, and why the next phase of urban innovation depends on data platforms, AI-ready infrastructure, and effective governance.

Opinions

Transforming indoor public safety with smart sensor networksSponsored by Motorola Solutions

How smart sensor networks can help improve indoor safety by detecting risks early, improving situational awareness and supporting healthier, more secure and sustainable buildings.

How AI will define cities and mobility in 2026Sponsored by ST Engineering

Gareth Tang, President of Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how urban AI applications are set to evolve, detailing projects where AI is already making significant impact.

Home | Opinions

22 - 26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Singapore

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how the island city-state of Singapore is further building its reputation as one of the smartest nations in the world in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: The impact of AI and data on transportation operations and services

Trend Series

Delve into how cities are addressing the challenges of building intelligent transport systems and using AI and data to transform operations and user experience.

Latest Webinar

Webinar (29 Sept): How data and AI support better decisions to bolster city operations

Webinars

SmartCitiesWorld webinar will explore how local authorities can strengthen workforce decision-making by combining unified data, agentic AI and secure digital foundations.

Latest Summit Speakers
(22-26 June)

Sherelle Fairweather

Digital Strategy Lead

Manchester’s Digital Strategy

Find out more

Liz St Louis

Smart City Director

Sunderland City Council

Find out more

Julie Foley OBE

Director of Flood Risk Strategy & Adaptation

Environment Agency

Find out more

Mark Wheeler

CIO

Montgomery County

Find out more

Lord Marvin Rees OBE

Former Mayor

Bristol City Council

Find out more

Cllr Susan Aitken

Leader

Glasgow City Council

Find out more

John Moran

Mayor

Limerick City and County Council

Find out more

Matjaž Rakovec

Mayor

City of Kranj

Find out more

Erin Mendenhall

Mayor

Salt Lake City

Find out more

Julia King

The Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS

House of Lords

Find out more

Latest Podcast

Podcast: Tracking the journey from smart cities to AI cities (part two)

Podcasts

Re-join our in-depth conversation with Professor Jung Hoon Lee, exploring how AI is moving from pilots to real-world impact in cities worldwide.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

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SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Opinions

We ask cities and industry experts from around the world to give us their opinion on smart city technology and challenges.

Fabio Mauri: Head of Technology Operations and Cybersecurity at Paradox Engineering

Securing lighting: protecting the backbone of connected cities

Opinions26 Aug 2026by Fabio Mauri: Head of Technology Operations and Cybersecurity at Paradox Engineering

Fabio Mauri, Head of Technology Operations and Cybersecurity at Paradox Engineering, explains why cybersecurity must be built into smart lighting infrastructure to protect the connected systems and services modern cities increasingly rely on.

Katherine Flesh, Director of Transportation, Cities & Infrastructure Industry, Americas Microsoft

AI’s next stop: transforming urban transportation responsibly

AI CityXchange25 Jun 2026by Katherine Flesh, Director of Transportation, Cities & Infrastructure Industry, Americas Microsoft

As transport agencies turn to AI to improve services, the greatest opportunities will depend on strong data foundations, workforce readiness and responsible governance, says Microsoft’s Katherine Flesh.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: Meet the exhibitor – Ecomondo

Opinions16 Jun 2026

Ecomondo discusses the priorities shaping healthier, more sustainable cities and explains why the SmartCitiesWorld Summit offers a valuable platform for sharing practical solutions and building new connections.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: Meet the partner – ICLEI

Opinions09 Jun 2026by Matthew Bach

Matthew Bach, regional director for ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, says cities are not only implementing global agendas – they are essential partners in shaping them.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: Meet the exhibitor – Ceragon

Opinions09 Jun 2026

Smart cities don’t get built on roadmaps, says Ceragon, they get built on infrastructure that goes live quickly and stays up when it matters most.

Join the UN to discuss responsible geospatial and physical AI

Opinions24 Apr 2026by Paul Wilson

The UN Virtual Worlds Day event will explore how we can turn AI, spatial intelligence, and the Citiverse ecosystem into trusted, people-centred outcomes, explains Paul Wilson, so why not join the conversation?

Michael Davis, Senior Director, Motorola Solutions

Transforming indoor public safety with smart sensor networks

Citizen security20 Mar 2026by Michael Davis, Senior Director, Motorola Solutions

How smart sensor networks can help improve indoor safety by detecting risks early, improving situational awareness and supporting healthier, more secure and sustainable buildings.

Advancing citizen-first public services through AI and digital transformation

AI and Machine Learning18 Mar 2026

Huawei’s vision at MWC shows how AI‑driven digital platforms can help governments deliver faster, seamless and citizen‑focused public services.

Sadaf Mozaffarian: WW Public Sector Solutions Lead, Microsoft

Closing the intelligence gap: how cities turn AI experiments into operational impact

Opinions26 Feb 2026by Sadaf Mozaffarian: WW Public Sector Solutions Lead, Microsoft

Sadaf Mozaffarian, WW Public Sector Solutions Lead, Microsoft, says Governments do not need more AI experiments but decisions they can explain in public, act on safely, and defend in an audit.

Gareth Tang, President of Urban Solutions, ST Engineering

How AI will define cities and mobility in 2026

AI and Machine Learning19 Feb 2026by Gareth Tang, President of Urban Solutions, ST Engineering

Gareth Tang, President of Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how urban AI applications are set to evolve, detailing projects where AI is already making significant impact.

Cecília Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager, Bentley Systems

Why water must lead the smart city conversation

Opinions10 Feb 2026by Cecília Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager, Bentley Systems

Cecilia Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager at Bentley Systems explains how strategy, policy and technology must combine to create water smart cities that are fit for today and tomorrow.

Introducing AI CityXchange: focusing on the real work of AI in cities

Opinions05 Feb 2026by Luke Antoniou

SmartCitiesWorld’s senior editor Luke Antoniou on the launch of the new AI CityXchange, at a time where dialogue and knowledge sharing is critical between cities and their partners to use AI technology for public good.

Carlo Bernocco: Head of Business and Customer Success, Paradox Engineering

Smart lighting: enabling smart cities beyond illumination

Opinions20 Nov 2025by Carlo Bernocco: Head of Business and Customer Success, Paradox Engineering

Carlo Bernocco, Head of Business and Customer Success at Paradox Engineering, explores how smart lighting is evolving from energy-saving infrastructure to a multifunctional platform at the heart of urban innovation.

Fuad Alsagoff: Senior Manager, Mobility Payment Systems, Urban Solutions, ST Engineering

How AI and biometrics are shaping next-generation mobility payments

Opinions04 Nov 2025by Fuad Alsagoff: Senior Manager, Mobility Payment Systems, Urban Solutions, ST Engineering

Fuad Alsagoff, Senior Manager, Mobility Payment Systems, Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how mobility payments are evolving with a new wave of technology – and how openness and inclusive services are driving adoption.

Hossam El-Shoukry: Smart Cities Engineering Lead, MENA, Honeywell

Enhancing liveability and resilience in cities

Opinions31 Oct 2025by Hossam El-Shoukry: Smart Cities Engineering Lead, MENA, Honeywell

Hossam El-Shoukry, smart cities engineering lead, MENA, Honeywell, explains why smart city technologies aren’t an optional extra but central to building liveable, people-centric cities.

Mostafa Othman: Smart Cities Programme Director, Honeywell

Embedding intelligence: from smart to cognitive cities

Opinions31 Oct 2025by Mostafa Othman: Smart Cities Programme Director, Honeywell

Mostafa Othman, smart cities programme director, Honeywell, examines how AI is heralding a new urban intelligence where cities learn, adapt and optimise themselves in real time.

Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee: Axis Communications

Connected video and sensors for greener urban living

Opinions30 Oct 2025by Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee: Axis Communications

Intelligent video sensors and AI are altering how cities manage sustainability. Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee at Axis Communications explain how real-time data and digital twins are helping urban areas become greener and more resilient.

Ralf-Peter Schäfer: VP Product Management Traffic and Travel Information at TomTom

Data-driven mobility in cities: the role of maps and traffic data

Opinions27 Oct 2025by Ralf-Peter Schäfer: VP Product Management Traffic and Travel Information at TomTom

Ralf-Peter Schäfer, VP Product Management Traffic and Travel Information at TomTom, explains how mapping data, combined with real-time and community traffic data, is driving a revolution in urban mobility.

How sensors and IoT are reshaping urban mobility

Opinions23 Oct 2025by Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee: Axis Communications

Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee from Axis Communications explain how urban mobility is becoming more proactive, efficient and safe through the use of advanced sensors, IoT and AI.

Sensor networks are driving the creation of connected city ecosystems

Analysis by Frost & Sullivan reveals how digitisation and advancements in Internet of Things are driving the large-scale adoption of sensor technologies for the development of smart cities.

What is ‘Smart City’ and why do we need them?

Smart city is the framework based on Information and Communication technologies that enable the development of sustainable practices to address the urbanisation challenges. Leveraging the technology is one of the foremost pillars of ‘smart cities’ in order to increase efficiencies and improve the quality of resident’s life and the city’s services.

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.