[Young journalist Cheon Ye On] Will AI be able to change the look of the city? 

Recently, a global report that shows the answer towards to the question was published. 

Deloitte investigated 250 worldwide city’s AI plan, investment, implementation state with ServiceNow·Nvidia·ThoughtLab, and published the ‘AI based smart city’s current state and future’ report by analyzing the data.

Based on the report, it is inspected that AI will change the process of analyzing massive data, making the contents, and more. 

Experts predict that AI will lead innovation in urban services such as infrastructure, transportation, public safety, healthcare, and the environment, evolving to crucial utility for the city.

It is shown that 18% of the investigated cities are using AI technology to strengthen the smart city initiative. It is predicted that after 3 years, it will increase to 59%, which is 3 times higher. Furthermore, it is anticipated that AI will fundamentally change the city’s paradigm. 

It is known that 87% of global cities are already planning, testing or using generative AI. 

ThoughtLab reviewed the city’s AI maturity with standards of ▲AI usage level ▲implementation range▲responsibility expansion effort▲ future preparedness and other standards. Following that, ThoughtLab separated the cities with ▲AI leader▲AI bellwether▲AI adopter.

20% of the 250 cities investigated were chosen as ‘AI leader’. 

Global countries such as Seoul·New York·Paris·Tokyo and more were selected as AI leader cities. It is shown that AI leader cities are effectively taking action on various city problems such as ▲climate change▲public healthcare▲crime cases▲lack of home▲time-worn infrastructure and other problems more than any other countries. Specifically, it is analyzed that these cities were showing great competency in resilience.

Moreover, it has been investigated that the AI leader cities are frequently utilizing AI in different fields such as ▲government operation efficiency▲strengthening safety ▲citizen lifestyle·healthcare reliability increase▲mobility and traffic improvement▲city infrastructure care▲environment and sustainability enhancement and more. 

For instance, Detroit in the USA is planning to use AI in order to decrease administrative costs and boost efficiency. 

Madrid in Spain is managing regions with high crime rate, using AI video analysis, while Fukuoka in Japan is trying energy reduction by AI streetlight.

The report suggested 8 main action steps for successful AI leadership. They are ▲commitment in a top-down method that expands to the city▲collaboration with partners for creation of AI innovation environment▲frequent implementation and use of AI technology▲quality generation through combination of AI and other technology▲setting the main focus on data security▲supporting responsible use of AI, and so on.

Han-Dong-Hyun, Korea Deloitte group energy·resources·industrial goods leader said “Nowadays when we draw the picture of future city with AI, the important thing is not the technology itself, but it is how AI will improve the citizen’s life”, while he continued his words by saying “I hope the real life examples and data-based plans of the AI leader cities that are introduced in this report will be meaningful compass for each city to choose the most important tasks and to push themselves for sustainable innovation.”

▶원문 기사: 서울, AI 분야에서 세계적인 도시들과 나란히…AI 리더 도시로 꼽혀 (이코노미스트, 2025. 5. 20)

◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with  이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

ⓒ이코노미스트(https://economist.co.kr) '내일을 위한 경제뉴스 이코노미스트' 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지