Page 15 - A U4SSC deliverable - Accelerating city transformation using frontier technologies

Artificial intelligence

AI and the fourth industrial revolution

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the centrepiece of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). It is estimated that
AI could add up to USD 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Leading cities have already invested
heavily in expanding their AI capabilities and nurturing a new generation of talent that could contribute
to the digital economy using AI in the near future. San Francisco has been one of the earliest adopters
and is a pioneering city of AI-based technology. Tech-companies in San Francisco have already invested
over USD 11.4 billion in AI-related activities. This interest has also seeped into academia, with various
universities revising their courses to encourage AI development among students, to funding AI-based
research that focus on driving urban sustainability.

“AI can profoundly change the way citizens interact
with both physical and digital world.”

London, United Kingdom is also home to over 750 AI companies, which is double the number of Berlin
and Paris combined, making it the “AI capital of Europe”.
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AI can profoundly change the way citizens interact with the physical and digital worlds. AI-powered
software and systems are already playing a decisive role in tackling global challenges such as reducing
global greenhouse gas emissions, optimising energy usage and streamlining city services. By feeding
data gathered from intelligent sensors and sensor networks to AI algorithms, cities have the ability to
take preventive measures against natural disasters, detect anomalies in water systems, deliver early
responses in case of emergencies and improve other aspects of urban management as required.

The potential of AI is not limited to
supporting informed decision making.
Machine learning techniques have
enabled AI to learn from observation,
imitate human actions and decode
human values. AI-powered robots
have been piloting drones, performing
surgery and assisting relief operations
in conflict zones. Most vehicles today
have over 4 000 sensors installed in
them to collect external and internal
data, paving ways for the development
of autonomous vehicles. Autonomous
vehicle tests are already underway
in 36 cities in the United States.

Accelerating city transformation using frontier technologies | A U4SSC deliverable 5