UN launches toolbox to keep people accountable for AI in smart cities

Guidance for AI in public services

The U4SSC Toolbox for People-Centred Smart Cities in the AI Era was issued by the International Telecommunication Union and the UN Human Settlements Programme, also known as UN-Habitat. It was announced in Barcelona at the first-ever United Nations Pavilion hosted by ITU and UN-Habitat at the Smart City Expo World Congress.

The toolbox addresses the growing use of AI in city halls. According to the announcement, chatbots answer residents, algorithms select roads to repair and software supports administrative decisions. These applications may make services more responsive, but they can also create risks involving bias, privacy, human rights and accountability.

Four rules for city AI projects

The resource is built around real-world smart-city solutions from Helsinki, Finland, to eThekwini, South Africa. It asks cities to consider the entire life cycle of an AI project, including the problem it is meant to solve, who could benefit or be harmed, how the system should be monitored and who is accountable for its decisions.

It sets out four core rules: start with the urban problem rather than the technology; keep public decisions under meaningful human control; apply stronger safeguards when potential impacts are greater; and recognize that choosing not to use an AI system can be a responsible outcome.

“The U4SSC toolbox helps city officials turn international standards and responsible AI principles into guidance for better public services and lasting trust,” Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, said.

A focus on rights and underserved communities

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach said AI and digital innovation must help cities respond to community needs, particularly in informal settlements and other underserved areas. She said this requires addressing data gaps, protecting human rights and ensuring residents and civil society meaningfully participate in urban decisions.

The toolbox is intended to help cities move from fragmented digital projects toward sustainable urban transformation. It also supports international collaboration and gives urban practitioners practical resources for using digital technologies.

Part of U4SSC's 10-year milestone

The toolbox launch coincides with the 10th anniversary of United for Smart Sustainable Cities, a UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UN-Habitat and the UN Economic Commission for Europe, with support from 19 other UN agencies and programmes. U4SSC was launched in 2016 and is supported by 22 UN agencies and programmes.

Alongside the toolbox, U4SSC is releasing publications on urban AI governance, people-centred digital transformation measurement, security for digital public infrastructure, city data platforms, anticipatory governance and data-enabled destination management. The materials give city and national authorities a common UN-backed reference for using AI and data to build fairer, more resilient and more responsive cities.