Research and recommendations to leverageAI for people-centred smart cities Global assessment of Responsible AI in citiesResearch and recommendations to leverage AI for people-centred smart cities Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)All rights reservedUnited Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)P.O. Box 30030 00100 Nairobi GPO KENYATel: 254-020-7623120 (Central Office)www.unhabitat.org HS/085/16E Disclaimer:The designations employed and the presentation of material in thispublication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of thesecretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any county, territory, cityor area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundariesregarding its economic system or degree of development. Excerpts may be reproducedwithout authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. Views expressed in thispublication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human SettlementsProgramme, the United Nations and its member states. Photos ©unsplash.com Acknowledgements Lead AuthorsSoumaya Ben Dhaou (UNU-EGOV) Tupokigwe Isagah (UNU-EGOV) Authors Charmaine Distor (UNU-EGOV)Ines Campos Ruas (UNU-EGOV) ContributorsJoão Martins (UNU-EGOV) Judy Backhouse (UNU-EGOV)Larissa Magalhães (UNU-EGOV) UN-HABITAT Core team Livia Schaeffer Nonose (UN-HABITAT/UNITAC)Abdinassir Shale Sagar (UN-HABITAT) IDRC Core teamGillian Dowie (IDRC) ReviewersShazade Jameson (Tilburg University, Mila) Ana Catarina Pires Bernardo Ramos Fontes (Technology University of Munich – IEAI,Institute of Ethics in AI)Rosanna Fanni (UNESCO)Nehali Anupriya (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) EditingLivia Schaeffer Nonose (UN-HABITAT/UNITAC) Design, Layout and IllustrationsMichael Lusaba (UN-Habitat) How to cite this report:Ben Dhaou, S., Isagah, T., Distor, C., & Ruas, I.C. (2024). Global Assessment of Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Cities: Research and recommendations to leverage AI for people-centred smart cities. Nairobi, Kenya. United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-Habitat). Contents 1Introduction72Methodology and Data Collection143Framework for Responsible AI in Cities193.1Context of Responsible AI in Cities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203.2Benefits,Challenges,Opportunities,andRisks(BCOR)ofResponsibleAIinCities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243.3Governance and Partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .393.4AI Capabilities in Cities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .574AI for Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Cities645Conclusion and Key Recommendations for Responsible AI in cities74References81 Table of figures Figure 1:Afour-stepapproachfortheGlobalAssessmentofResponsibleAI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Figure 2:Visualrepresentationofglobalsurveyresponses(N=118)andcollectedcasestudies(N=70). . . . . . . . . . . . .16Figure 3:AnalyticalframeworkforResponsibleAIincities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Figure 4:InteresttowardAItechnologybylevelofadoptionofAIandbycontinent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Figure 5:DistributionofAIincitiescasestudiesbasedonAItypologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Figure 6:KnowledgeofAIincitiesbasedontheprofessionallevelofrespondents.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Figure 7:Motivations for adopting AI in cities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Figure 8:PotentialAIuse-casesforcitiesinterests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Figure 9:AreasbenefitingofAIimplementationincities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Figure 10:BenefitsofAIimplementationincities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Figure 11:Factors hindering the adoption of AI in cities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Figure 12:Challenges of AI implementation in cities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Figure 13:AIrisksinimplementingAIincities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Figure 14:WaysusedbycitiestogovernAI.. . . . . . .