Smart Cities

Cities in the future will need to be increasingly clever in how they operate, by utilizing more data collection, automation, and artificial intelligence to serve its citizens and businesses.

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Credits:
Smart Cities
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
Episode 392, April 27, 2023
Written, Produced & Narrated by Isaac Arthur

Editors:
Briana Brownell
David McFarlane

[qfytidw]

It seems to me that enthusiasm for things like smart cities depends on having a level of trust in corporations and politicians that is getting rarer by the day.

[mcgameproductions]

“The problem with smart cities is people”
City management AI 1/10/2738

[chriskirby]

I think the biggest problem with smart cities is how much data is collected and how that data is used. Most of the people in govt aren't people I would let own a pet, let alone manage a city of humans.

[DJxDvZ]

My city got rid of traffic cams for a few reasons. Firstly, they were run and handled by a private company sending out fines, not a legal entity. Secondly, it was found that the city had adjusted light timings to try and catch more people, leading to increased accidents with in some cases 2-second greens.

[OneOnOne]

When I hear the term "smart city" I almost always immediately think of New Mombasa from "Halo 3: ODST" and the superintendent. Monitoring the city, calling emergency services, estimating casualty rates, closing or opening certain streets, controling lights, etc.

The way I think of smart cities is generally "cities where there is an automated gathering and processing of information which can react live without human intervention based on that information." So in the case of the superintendent that would be "gathering info that there's been an attack and where, processing casualty figures, then alerting emergency services."

[BATCHARRO]

19:17 Like 7 years ago I went to do some paperwork I think the DMV, and I needed a signature from a person that wasn't present. And I was like, "I can call her in videocall and she authorizes it" and they were like "no, that can't be done."

So obviously I went outside signed it as if it was her and came back.

Like, what are we doing lol.

[jackesioto]

Smart cities would doubtlessly be a double edged sword. On one hand, near total connectivity would result in medical problems being diagnosed and treated sooner, enable kilotons of fun to be had in digital universes (including virtual reverse time travel), and some other things. On the other hand, this hyper-connectivity would also facilitate the creation of a mass surveilance state that current secret police agencies, NSA, etc can only dream of yet. It could also lead to the merging of all cultures, languages, dialects, etc into a single global monolith. So we must find a way to maximize the good of this technology, minimize the bad, and ask ourselves what sacrifices we're willing to make.

[konsthum]

I like the intellectual honesty of starting the episode with the dangers of high tech in service to an autocracy.

[namuzed]

I like the idea of designing cities better, but so many of the proposals are coming from out-of-touch technocrats. Every time they try to pilot their ideas they fail due to problems that were glaringly obvious to everyone who lives there..

[dtphenom]

I wonder how soon Isaac would be able to create a video entirely using ai generated stock footage

[Arkantos]

I just want as little centralised power as I can have, 'efficiency' be damned.

[DanielGenis]

Isaac, call me dystopic, but I always dreamed of life in Blade Runner’s LA, where they speak Hungarian-Japanese in the streets and it’s always dark and raining. Your optimistic vision is beautiful but not what I expect. Of course, we live in the hood in Brooklyn, so I’m kind of already there….

[teknophyle]

15:09 giving parents the ability to check on their kids could be seen as a feature for ease of mind or safety. BUT it can also be a huge privacy concern. You won't be the only one watching what your kid is doing. even something like busybody parents concerned with what everyone else's kids are doing. presumably bus drivers and teachers have background checks to make sure they're trustworthy but people with access to the camera won't.

[graye]

Those who argue for smart cities seemingly have never thought of the concept that not everything should be connected to the internet. Smart cities are an autocrats "solution" that will lead to nothing but more centralized control.

[m.mulder]

Isaac, have you seen the series Psycho Pass? I'd be curious to hear your futuristic perspective on the sci-fi and society displayed in it.

[TraditionalAnglican]

3:40 - Isaac, “Self-Driving” means the goal is to have the car drive itself in most, if not all, situations & conditions. Safety regulators & those developing it refer to Autonomy Levels 4 & 5.

[SoberGin]

I'm a little disappointed at the lack of focus on public transport, since it's basically necessary for cities to function properly, but a good episode nonetheless. Have fun on your trip!

[Texas]

It's all fun and games until Amazon turns off your smart city because they don't agree city's politics.

[jordhuga]

Amazing how far your channel has come. Thank you and your team so much for offering such high quality content.

[annoyed]

"Please state the nature of the urban planning emergency."