Q: What are smart cities?

They are cities that use technology to collect dataPieces of information. about people. This includes people who live, work and travel there. 

By 2050, experts predict that 68% of the global population will live in urban areas.  

Q: How do they work? 

They have a collection of sensors, cameras and smart devices. These devices make up the "Internet of Things". 

The information they collect is used to make the city a safer, healthier, greener and easier place to live. For example, smart traffic lights can be set to allow ambulances to get around quicker in an emergency. 

Q: How many smart cities are there?

Today, there are nearly 400 smart city projects around the world. In Hangzhou, China, the AI "City Brain" has reduced traffic jams by 15%. In Santander, Spain, sensors tell rubbish collectors when the bins are full. And they dim street lights when no one is nearby.

Q: Sounds great! What's the problem?

Smart cities still need people to do some things! People still need to drive ambulances. If a sensor works out the road needs fixing, people still need to fix it! 

Q: Is smart technology dangerous?

Yes, say some. They say smart cities mean we cannot be free. We always have technology watching us. 

But others disagree. They argue that smart cities help us. They are not spying on us.  

Q: Will we all live in smart cities? 

Nobody is sure. Lots of people do not like the idea. One city in Mexico had to stop plans to become smart when locals protested. 

But planners say they are the future. Now the metaverse exists, we can use it to test out projects before they are even built.