Page 52 - AI for Good - Impact Report

AI for Good

Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable

Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient and sustainable

Data availability for SDG 11 is notably low, with only 35% of
data available, posing challenges in assessing progress on
the targets. 304 Currently, only 1 out of the 10 targets (11.6
Urban air quality & waste management) is on track. This
translates into 1.1 billion urban residentsliving in slums,
with this number expected to rise to 2 billion in the next 30
years. 305 As cities continue to expand globally, the signifi-
cance of SDG 11 is growing, with an estimated five billion
people expected to reside in cities by 2050, compared to
3.3 billion in 2014. 306

AI and SDG 11 Impact
According to a study on the impact of AI on
The relationship between AI and SDG 11 is well-documented, with SDG 11, AI could act as an (positive) enabler
numerous AI use cases: 17 use cases out of 40 in AI for Good: Innovate for for 100% of the targets and act as an inhibi-
Impact, 307 and approximately 80 use cases out of 408 in the UN Activities on tor (negative) for 20% of the targets. (Nature
Communications, 2020)
AI. 308 This demonstrates the breadth of AI applications available to advance
smart cities and align with a forward-looking vision. Notably, several articles Use case 1
highlight the benefits of leveraging AI to develop smart cities. 309 AI has Developing smart cities that are less envi-
the potential to enhance cities by promoting environmental sustainabil- ronmentally impactful, and more enjoyable

ity through energy efficiency and space optimization, 311 312 as well as by for the urban population using AI and tech-
nologies.
improving the overall livability and organization of urban areas through
enhanced transportation systems. 313 314 Furthermore, the adoption of AI in

smart cities has shown promise in reducing inequalities compared to tradi-
tional cities. 315 Additionally, AI can also be used to help in the design of cities

and to drive urban planning. 316 317 Additionally, AI can play a crucial role
in city design and urban planning, providing urban planners with tools to
expedite decision-making processes and prioritize citizen needs, ultimately
leading to more inclusive and sustainable city development. Moreover, AI
can contribute to enhancing city security by facilitating the monitoring of
urban activities. 318 link
Use case 2
One important aspect to consider is the need to build trust and transpar-
ency with citizens regarding the value of smart cities and the responsible Using an AI platform to help increase the
use of data. 319 For instance, one attempt to establish a smart city in Toronto security of cities by monitoring and flagging
failed due to a lack of public trust, highlighting the critical importance of any risks for the citizens.
citizen involvement in the development of smart cities. 320 It is also import-
ant to mitigate the potential risks associated with AI, such as the risk of
conducting surveillance on specific communities, as identified in SDG 10.
321 Additionally, within the context of SDG 11, the preservation of cultural
and natural heritage (SDG 11.4) is paramount. There is a growing concern
about the potential homogenization of the creative sector by AI, which could
stifle creative diversity. 322 It is important to recognize the risk that a limited
number of AI tools influencing areas such as arts and architecture may lead
to a reduction in cultural diversity within the sector. link
Use case 3
Key Considerations for Stakeholders Developing cities plan and urban solutions
using AI to improve the development
• Data privacy: Insufficient trust in data sharing has the potential to dimin- process and connect it to the needs of the
ish the effectiveness of smart cities. 323 Governments need to establish citizens.
robust privacy frameworks to prevent data over-sharing and mitigate
associated concerns.
• User-centric: Align the development of AI solutions with the “Recom-
mendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence” from UNESCO to
ensure that human dignity is maintained. 324

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