???? Unleashing the Futuristic Festivities of Philippine Smart Cities at the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 on July 20, 2023!

Week 28 of 2023

Hey Smartivists!?

Welcome to the #SmartsNewsletter , your 3-minute weekly pass to the forefront of smart cities, tech, innovations, and regulations in Asia!?

This newsletter will explore the rise of smart cities in ASEAN, the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 in the Philippines, and updates on India's Smart Cities Mission after 8 years. For our regulation refresh, ASEAN promised to draft a comprehensive framework on AI by 2024.?

Read on and may the smart city Force be with you! ??

???? The Rise of the Smart Cities in ASEAN ??

So, picture this: a bunch of countries in Southeast Asia getting together getting serious with the implementation of smart cities. That’s what the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) is. The Sixth Annual Meeting of the ASCN was held in Bali, Indonesia, on July 12, 2023 . During the meeting, three key points to further ASEAN’s efforts in promoting smart and sustainable cities were highlighted:?

1. the importance of sharing knowledge and learnings between cities and with national governments;
2. the need to strengthen cooperation in evidence-based city planning and management, and
3. the importance of promoting public-private-people partnerships in the development of smart and sustainable cities

?? Takeaway? Smart and sustainable cities are becoming increasingly important in Southeast Asia. However, it is important to be aware of the potential challenges and risks involved. A city might invest in smart water meters, but not do enough to address the underlying causes of water scarcity. A city might use smart city technologies to track the movements of its citizens, but not put in place safeguards to protect their privacy. As Uncle Ben says, "with great power comes great responsibility." It is crucial to use technology responsibly in the context of smart cities and to make sure that it is utilized for the benefit of all residents.

???? Unleashing the Futuristic Festivities of Philippine Smart Cities at the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 on July 20, 2023!?

The upcoming Igniting Transformation: Futuristic Dialogues on Smart Cities and Industry Disruptors at the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 in July 20,2023 will have industry leaders, innovators, and experts come together to explore the mind-blowing power of smart cities and industry disruptors in shaping our future! It sounds like it will be a total blast diving into cutting-edge technologies, trends, and strategies driving innovation across various sectors featuring national governments and big corporations.

?? Takeaway? With the current Philippine administration’s focus on digital transformation, smart cities seem like becoming a “hype” again. Futuristic dialogues and innovative ideas are undoubtedly exciting, but it is important to assess how feasible and practical they are. I have yet to attend an event where the potential for data misuse, and surveillance, was carefully evaluated and addressed. Hopefully this one will? ??

??????? India’s Smart Cities Mission: 8 years & some bumps on the Road

In order to improve the quality of life in 100 cities, India started the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) in 2015. Despite the eight years of difficulties, advancement has been made! According to a report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs, a remarkable 68% of the SCM-funded projects have already been finished. While it is true that some cities have performed better than anticipated, others are still working to achieve their goals. But let's not lose sight of the fact that every victory teaches us something useful that we may apply to our future undertakings. The same report also identifies that on top of lack of capacity and unclear priorities, having no concrete smart city definition is one of the biggest challenges that needs to be addressed sooner than later.

Source: IndiaSpend

?? Takeaway? The SCM's future is uncertain. Although the government has stated that it intends to keep up the effort, it is unknown how much funds will be made available in the upcoming years. Some critics also suggested that the mission focuses too much on technology and insufficiently on fundamental infrastructure. Despite its difficulties and detractors, I think the SCM is a valuable endeavor. First things first? It is necessary, among other things, for the government to offer more precise guidelines for what defines a "smart city."

?? Regulation Refresh

???? ASEAN's Journey Towards Nuanced Rules on AI for Smooth Operations!?

A comprehensive framework for the beneficial deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) is being painstakingly developed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These rules are being drafted by experts from the entire region, and it should be published in the first quarter of 2024. By putting safety, ethics, and social benefits first, these progressive recommendations seek to assist ASEAN nations in realizing AI's full potential. This will also address crucial issues including preserving privacy, eliminating bias, and promoting openness.

?? Takeaway? The implementation of the ASEAN AI standards will ultimately determine its effectiveness. The region's innovation and competitiveness may suffer if the rules are overly stringent or inconsistently applied. Why not turn to the public for help rather than just experts?

You or your organization are about to embark on an exciting voyage through the interesting world of new technologies, innovations, or?smart?cities in the Asia Pacific Region. And guess what? I'm your go-to person.??For more than a decade,?I've worked with public and private sector agencies, collaborating on research projects for API management, open ecosystems, AI governance and telecommunications. PING ME at [email protected]