The Smart City Trap

The article discusses the risks of prioritizing return on investment (ROI) in smart city technology, which can lead to the reclassification of citizens as data points, compromising privacy, social equity, and democratic participation. This shift is happening as governments and corporations invest heavily in smart city technology, with the global market projected to grow to $1,445.6 billion by 2030. Cities should consider the long-term consequences of implementing AI systems that prioritize efficiency over citizen rights. Engineers should be aware of these risks and advocate for responsible AI development.