AI Summit for Mayors at Smart City Expo Miami: The Potential of AI to Improve Our Cities

This year’s Smart City Expo Miami brought together an impressive lineup of speakers who discussed the potential for Artificial Intelligence to shape and better the future of urban living. As Bernardo Scheinkman, founder and CEO of Smart Cities Americas, stated, “This event is about innovation, innovation, innovation.” AI is traditionally associated with the tech or financial industries, but AI has recently started to be used in city governance and management, making the presence of mayors from several Florida cities notable. The summit was held at the AI Center at Miami Dade College and was kicked off by Michael Mannino, the Director of the AI Center, followed by a brief foreword from Bernardo.

A brief intro to AI: What is it really and should we be hesitant to take it further?

The main event kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Jonathan Reichental, a multiple-award-winning technology and business leader and founder of Human Future. Reichental took attendees on a journey through the history of AI, beginning by asking the audience a simple question: “How often do you use AI?” Some said a few times a day, some said never – but it was a trick question:

“You all use AI multiple times a day, even if you don’t realize it,” said Reichental. Reichental pointed out that AI is an integral part of our daily lives, and has been for a considerable time.

AI research and innovation has been occurring for decades; however, it was the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 that drove mainstream interest in it. What sets the current AI revolution apart from the past is the abundance of data, which has made AI more powerful and effective. For example, as Reichental points out, AI has the ability to outperform humans in analyzing X-Rays and CT scans. Whereas before, you would have to wait several weeks for a diagnosis, AI can produce results in only a few hours.

Alongside the growing fascination with AI, there have been grumblings of disapproval and even a growing fear AI will one day overpower and outsmart humanity – but we aren’t anywhere near that, as Reichental stated. He reminded attendees that all ChatGPT does is synthesize data that we have already created.

David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer of Carlsbad, California, made a similar point in his presentation. Graham, who talked about the usability and value of AI in the government context, shared,

“Artificial intelligence is no more than an incredibly sophisticated Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

Meaning, all AI does is make predictions based on huge amounts of information. “There is nothing new that is being created by artificial intelligence.” So, no, AI will not outsmart humanity and take over the world. It will, however, inevitably continue to expand into more industries and areas of our lives.

“Don’t assume that you can stop it, it’s already here,” Graham stated.

AI may be quickly advancing, but Graham reminded the audience that it’s not perfect, noting that “Artificial intelligence is a mirror of humanity.” AI can only take from information that humans have already produced, and anything produced by humans will always be susceptible to bias and error.

AI’s potential in the government context

Traditionally associated with the tech industry, AI may have the potential to help government officials and city councils build a better future for their jurisdictions. For example, Reichental highlighted the role of ChatGPT in assisting city officials, stating that city councils can leverage AI to make more data-informed decisions and improve customer service, providing a cushion for common constraints such as understaffing and overworking.

There are several key issues for governments to be aware of when deciding whether or not to implement AI models, and for what purposes. Graham outlined three critical considerations: confidentiality, accountability, and value. The government deals with confidential information, such as SSNs or credit card information, and the use of AI to manage this sensitive information raises some concerns. Graham reminded the audience that once information is fed into AI models, it’s no longer private, so governments have to remain diligent about what information they feed into AI models. When it comes to accountability, Graham asserted that it rests with the staff overseeing AI systems and that they bear responsibility for the information generated.

Lastly, governments need to account for the value and usability of AI models. Finding the value of AI in your organization and finding where it fits to augment, support, and help humanity should be any government’s key focus. Graham highlighted the immense potential AI holds for government organizations. He acknowledged that many city governments are wary of AI, but he stressed the inevitability of AI’s integration into government operations and its potential for cost reduction, sustainability, and enhanced efficiency.

The final speaker, Raimundo Rodulfo, also emphasized the value of implementing AI for government operations. Rodulfo, the Chief Innovation Officer of Coral Gables, shared his experience using AI to address the city’s challenges, most notably, hurricane preparedness. Rodulfo stated that, when he first joined the city administration, hurricanes posed the most significant challenge – a challenge he tackled by implementing cutting-edge technologies and AI to carry out tasks like inspecting water damage and making deliveries during emergency situations. His use of AI exemplified how it can be used to enhance disaster response and management in cities.

A future to look forward to

Smart City Expo Miami’s AI Summit for Mayors provided valuable insights into the growing role of AI in city governance and urban life. Reichental emphasized AI’s potential for generalized problem-solving, while Graham stressed the value of using AI to enhance government functions. Finally, Rodulfo shared his experiences with utilizing AI to enhance hurricane preparedness. As AI continues to evolve and permeate into more areas of our lives, understanding its capabilities and responsibilities is essential in shaping a more sustainable future.

#SmartCityExpoMiami #SmartCityMiami #SmartCityMia #SmartCities #SmartCity

Daniella Levine Cava Francis X. Suarez Vitali Vitali Klitschko Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D. Paul Doherty, IFMA Fellow, DFC Senior Fellow Raimundo Rodulfo, P.E., MSEM, PMP, CSSBB Sandra Baer David Graham Leticia Latino-van Splunteren Aaron J. DeMayo Alan Scott, FAIA, LEED Fellow Anatolii Vovniuk, MBA Biayna Bogosian Bonnie Schneider Carl Welty Caroline LewisEbru ?zer, ASLA Elisa Silva Inna Braverman Jake Moskowitz Janica WiklanderKurt Kaminer Marcie Roth Ciawanda McDonald Marilys R. Nepomechie, FAIA, DPACSA, NCARB Martina Frattura Matt Haggman Laura Gaviria Halaby Matt Anderson Naman Sharma Pamela Hamblin Philip Wang Sara Pezeshk Dr. Sara Rushinek Sarbeswar Praharaj Thomas Spiegelhalter Antonio Delgado Fornaguera Miguel Murphy Marcus Ortega Nancy Dahlberg Riley KaminerMelissa Medina Craig Ari Rothleitner Edna Pasher Prof. Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-FeltesJana Skokan Jose Antonio Ondiviela Ph.D. Uri Ben-Ari Leonardo ScheinkmanEduardo Scheinkman Ric Scheinkman Mel Meléndez Ashley Portero Alex Harris Brian Bandell Jesse Scheckner Alex Mena Rob Wile Mario Ariza Vickie Chachere Andres Viglucci Eileen Cukier Grace DeWitt Joey Flechas cristina ojeda Christina Crespi Rodrick Miller Madeline Pumariega