ABSTRACT
Smart cities and AI are among the most popular discourses in urban policy circles. Most attempts at using AI to improve efficiencies in cities have nevertheless either struggled or failed to accomplish the smart city transformation. This is mainly due to short-sighted, technologically determined, and reductionist AI approaches being applied to complex urbanisation problems. Besides this, as smart cities are underpinned by our ability to engage with our environments, analyse them, and make efficient, sustainable, and equitable decisions, the need for a green AI approach is intensified. This chapter, reflecting authors’ opinions and interpretations, concentrates on the “green AI” concept as an enabler of the smart city transformation, as it offers the opportunity to move away from purely technocentric efficiency solutions towards efficient, sustainable, and equitable solutions capable of realising the desired urban futures. The aim of this chapter is two-fold: first, to highlight the fundamental shortfalls in mainstream AI system conceptualisation and practice, and second, to advocate the need for a consolidated AI approach—i.e., green AI—to further support smart city transformation. The methodological approach includes a thorough appraisal of the current AI and smart city literatures, practices, developments, trends, and applications.
