The United Nations today launched its first system-wide toolbox designed to ensure that people, rather than machines, remain accountable for public decisions in smart cities in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
The new United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) Toolbox for People-Centred Smart Cities in the AI Era , issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), gives mayors, city managers and policymakers real-world guidance for deciding how AI can improve public services, what safeguards are needed, and when the technology should not be used.
"Smart, sustainable cities are defined by how well people benefit from technology designed to improve everyday living," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General.
"The U4SSC toolbox helps city officials turn international standards and responsible AI principles into guidance for better public services and lasting trust."
A decade of supporting smart cities The launch of the new toolbox comes on the 10th anniversary of United for Smart Sustainable Cities, a global UN initiative coordinated by the ITU, UN-Habitat and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), with support from 19 other UN agencies and programmes.
Nov 4, 2026 · via miragenews.com
What exactly constitutes a smart city?
A smart city can be many things to many different people, but one thing they all share is their use of cloud technology and IoT systems to link parts of municipal infrastructure.
These sites are the control rooms of the modern smart city.
In this week's Top 10, Energy Digital looks at some of the data hubs behind ground-breaking urban energy initiatives.
Aspern Smart City Research Location: Austria Constructed: 2013 Tech provider: Siemens Notable feature: Live energy data from buildings, the grid and 111 volunteer households Imagine every building in a country reproduced in 3D, then wired to live data.
Nov 4, 2026 · via energydigital.com
The Riga City Council announced on 3 November that the capital is taking part in the international event from 3 to 5 November.
The announcement comes as cities across Europe are looking for practical ways to improve mobility, public services and the management of urban space.
The pavilion is designed to show how city data, digital twins, artificial intelligence and related tools can move from demonstration to practical use.
A mobility and planning focus Edgars Bergholcs, chair of the Riga City Council’s City Development Committee, is taking part in a discussion on smart mobility solutions and challenges at the congress.
The wider urban innovation conversation The 2026 Smart City Expo World Congress is built around the theme “Urban Solutions.
Nov 4, 2026 · via baltic-review.com
LiveX, which collaborated with NVIDIA on the interactive technology, on Tuesday announced an expanded set of capabilities for its AI City product, including 3D maps, multilingual translation options and a “Physical AI Host” experience for users – a “life-sized, human-like” hologram that can converse in multiple languages with people seeking assistance.
“LiveX’s interactive AI Hosts provide a unique way to engage with the public through accessible, context-aware intelligence that delivers natural conversation, personalized guidance and real-time assistance in physical spaces,” the company said in a press release.
San Jose, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is home to numerous technology and AI companies.
It was recently ranked among the leading cities for AI adoption in the U.S. by ThoughtLab.
Mahan has also advocated for AI use in city operations.
Nov 4, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) will take part in the Smart City Expo World Congress on November 4 and 5 within the L’Hospitalet City Council stand.
IDIBELL’s participation will showcase how biomedical research and health innovation act as drivers of social, economic, and urban development, with the potential to improve people’s quality of life..
During the congress, the institute will lead four activities that illustrate the connection between science, innovation, culture, and the city.
About IDIBELL The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a research centre created in 2004 specialising in cancer, neurosciences, translational medicine and regenerative medicine.
In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute.
Nov 3, 2026 · via idibell.cat
After more than a decade of advancing sensing technologies and intelligent systems, Florida Atlantic University’s Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE) is evolving its identity.
As part of its continued evolution, I-SENSE will be renamed I-SENSE: The Institute for Smarter Cities, Spaces, and Health.
“This new identity is not a change in our mission,” said Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., executive director of I-SENSE.
Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., executive director of I-SENSE.
Mike Twardowski, Ph.D., I-SENSE faculty fellow and a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, has advanced ocean-sensing technologies through U.S. Navy-supported research that improves understanding of marine bioluminescence and ocean conditions.
Nov 3, 2026 · via fau.edu
Dive Brief: Sixty-five percent of city leaders view AI as a key competitive and economic driver for their cities, a Thoughtlab survey of 526 city leaders across 215 global cities found.
Six of the 37 cities identified as demonstrating AI leadership are in the U.S.: Austin, Texas; Boston; San Francisco; San Jose, California; Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Public trust and acceptance of AI is also among the largest barriers to adoption, cited by 69% of survey respondents.
Nearly 60% of respondents said their city had established an AI lead, and 45% reported a citywide AI governance body.
Cities cited as AI leaders prioritized human-centered design, offering staff training and transparency, according to ThoughtLab.
Nov 3, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
BMF GRUP has signed the agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Flash Lighting Services, one of Romania’s leading companies in the design, implementation and management of smart lighting systems.
Ongoing concession and service contracts continue under the agreed terms, with the same teams, the same contact persons, the same 24/7 dispatch centre and the same accountability to the communities it serves.
Gabriel Tomescu, CEO and Co-Founder, BMF GRUP: “BMF GRUP has grown through people: through the skill of our colleagues, the trust of our clients and the sense of responsibility with which we do our work every day.
As we grow, I want us to keep this closeness: to stand by our teams, to listen to them and to give them room to learn, to bring ideas and to grow together with the group.
The relationships built over time remain the foundation of our business, and the strength of the group gives us the capacity to support and develop them.
Nov 3, 2026 · via business-review.eu
As cities face more frequent and severe climate events, local governments are using data to better understand risks, prepare for emergencies and protect residents.
In this dialogue, moderator Rochelle Haynes, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, speaks with Mayor Tomás Vodanovic of Maipú about how the city is using data, technology and collaboration to strengthen its response to climate risks, address vulnerabilities and build resilience.
Nov 3, 2026 · via smartcityexpo.com
As mobility needs and expectations evolve, public transport must evolve with them.
This discussion explores how services and systems can be rethought to remain attractive, accessible and relevant and what this could mean for the roles of cities, authorities, operators and new mobility providers.
Nov 3, 2026 · via smartcityexpo.com
A landmark new chapter in Navi Mumbai’s growth is set to unfold.
Today Group, in association with Prachar Developers, has announced plans to develop Navi Mumbai’s first private smart city at Kharghar Hills, an ambitious undertaking envisioned to redefine the way the next generation lives, connects and experiences the city.
Commenting on the plans, Mr. Bhadresh Shah, Managing Director, Today Group said, “In building Navi Mumbai’s first private smart city at Kharghar Hills, we have placed the needs of a larger community at the center of our planning.
A major highlight is Navi Mumbai’s biggest clubhouse, envisioned as a focal point for recreation, interaction and shared experiences for children and adults alike.
With its expansive scale, technology-led vision, lifestyle amenities and distinctive natural setting, Navi Mumbai’s first private smart city at Kharghar Hills aims to make a significant mark on the region’s future.
Nov 2, 2026 · via tribuneindia.com
Dive Brief: The Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk last week launched a legislative management system featuring more than 50 years of searchable records.
The LMS went live Oct. 26 and contains more than half a million documents and 172,000 City Council files.
Dive Insight: Los Angeles City Clerk Patrice Lattimore said her office was previously using as many as five siloed systems to process items for the City Council, including for streaming meetings and tracking votes.
“The speed at which this system went live is a testament to the hard work and leadership of the Office of the City Clerk.
“It provides the City Clerk, legislative staff, constituents, and the media with a more intuitive and efficient platform to access and manage legislative information,” she said.
Nov 2, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Abdullah Alsaiari from Elm explores the barriers to successful smart city transformation and how the Kingdom can turn its smart city goals into measurable impact.
In the context of smart cities, Saudi Arabia is also pursuing ambitious targets.
Eight Saudi cities featured in the 2026 IMD Smart City Index, with Riyadh advancing into the global top 25.
What successful transformations have in common For policymakers seeking to advance their cities’ smart city maturity, leading cities demonstrate six common success factors.
Fourth, they build the governance structures and delivery capabilities needed to take ownership of smart city solutions and continuously improve them.
Nov 2, 2026 · via consultancy-me.com
That’s when waste collection shifts from a routine service to a frontline operation.
It’s whether their mapping, routing and data systems were connected before the storm hit.
That let the team make one simple, powerful change: reclassifying bulky waste requests into a dedicated flood debris category.
Through an Open 311 integration, crews photograph each completed stop and the image is logged where residents can see it.
Built before the next storm Neither city invented its core response mid-crisis.
Nov 2, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Tech sovereignty is becoming a defining consideration in the roll-out of AI solutions across cities.
As local governments accelerate AI adoption, they face growing challenges around regulatory compliance, resource allocation, citizen trust, and integration in the existing infrastructure.
This session will explore how cities are balancing innovation and AI while navigating an evolving geopolitical landscape, where questions of societal impact, strategic autonomy and control over sensitive infrastructure and technologies are becoming increasingly pressing.
Nov 2, 2026 · via smartcityexpo.com
7 Wonders Future Cities voting switch-on New7Wonders today officially launched global public voting for the 7 Wonders of Future Cities, in a landmark ceremony hosted in the Philippines on World Cities Day, marking the beginning of a year of worldwide participation, inviting people everywhere to vote for the cities and urban developments they believe best represent the future of urban life, which will culminate with the official declaration of the seven winning cities and developments on 31 October 2027.
Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the 7 Wonders of Future Cities campaign, led the official switch-on.
"Today, from the Philippines to the world, we have switched on more than a voting platform - we have switched on a global conversation about the future of our cities," said de la Fuente.
The 7 Wonders of Future Cities is a worldwide participation campaign from New7Wonders, the global authority behind the New 7 Wonders of the World and the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and is organised by Global Platform Limited, its Dubai, UAE-based worldwide licensing and commercial arm.
These reflect the conviction that successful future cities must balance ecological responsibility, technological progress and the needs and aspirations of the people who inhabit them.
Nov 2, 2026 · via english.kyodonews.net
Quectel has filed a lawsuit against rival IoT module supplier Telit in the United States, alleging false advertising, unfair competition and cybersquatting.
The dispute highlights the growing intersection of cybersecurity, geopolitics and commercial competition in the IoT connectivity market.
Against this backdrop, Chinese IoT module manufacturer Quectel Wireless Solutions has taken legal action against competitor Telit IoT Solutions, accusing the company of conducting a coordinated campaign to damage its reputation and commercial relationships.
Security allegations at the center of the dispute According to the complaint, Telit promoted claims suggesting that Quectel’s IoT modules could be manipulated by the Chinese government.
In its complaint against Telit, Quectel alleges that the competitor’s statements contributed to reputational damage and affected customer relationships.
Nov 2, 2026 · via iotbusinessnews.com
Economic momentum continues to outpace the municipal frameworks needed to ensure equitable urban development.
Its response combines participatory mapping, infrastructure development, women-led governance, capacity building, social-enterprise financing and policy engagement.
The idea is simple but consequential: water infrastructure needs a financial and management system capable of keeping it working.
UN-Habitat increasingly treats housing, infrastructure and climate resilience as interconnected parts of urban development rather than separate agendas, for a good reason.
Muraina’s work starts with the reality that housing, infrastructure, climate, and finance are not separate conversations for the people living through them.
Nov 1, 2026 · via africa.businessinsider.com
By: Kanto Kai Okanta Konza Technopolis Development Authority Chief Executive Officer John Paul Okwiri has highlighted the role of deliberate planning, intelligent infrastructure, environmental sustainability and strategic partnerships in shaping sustainable and inclusive cities in Africa.
Okwiri delivered the message at the second edition of the Smart Cities Forum, held under the theme “Regenerating Our Cities: From Urban Challenges to Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Futures.”
Highlighting progress at Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship smart city, Okwiri said the development demonstrates how technology and innovation can improve lives and create economic opportunities.
With Phase One infrastructure complete, Konza Technopolis is demonstrating this vision through the Konza National Data Centre, Integrated Operations Centre, smart poles, automated waste collection and water reclamation systems, alongside green infrastructure designed to support a resilient and sustainable urban environment.
Beyond infrastructure development, the Technopolis is building an innovation ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, government and investors.
Nov 1, 2026 · via techreviewafrica.com
Sustainable urban development is the core purpose of the Smart Cities Mission.
The World Cities Day aligns with U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal for developing sustainable cities and communities.
On this World Cities Day, ETGovernment talked to three leading professionals in the field of architecture and engineering to get their views on sustainable urban development.
In 2015, the infrastructure and real estate sector got a major push with the Smart Cities Mission launched by the government.
Their involvement ensures that urban development is inclusive, catering to the needs of every demographic.
Nov 1, 2026 · via government.economictimes.indiatimes.com