AI Reshapes Cities, Work and Inequality

The “smart city” idea has moved from marketing into practical local-government use of sensors, data science and generative AI to improve everyday services and infrastructure, with examples such as UN‑Habitat’s World Cities Day in Bogotá and Bogotá’s TransMilenio illustrating efforts to prioritize vulnerable communities. At the same time, AI is disrupting labor markets—prompting layoffs and anxiety at major employers—while employers rapidly adopt AI in hiring to speed workflows, raising efficiency but also fairness and inequality concerns. Behavioral studies show people treat AI counterparts differently than humans, which can alter decisions and outcomes in recruitment and other interactions. Reports identify fast‑growing entry‑level, AI‑resistant roles—especially in health care, renewable energy and skilled trades—that emphasize empathy, dexterity and on‑site problem solving, reshaping hiring priorities and training gaps. Experts urge designing human‑ and community‑centred AI through cross‑disciplinary collaboration and nonprofit engagement to mitigate social harms. Observers warn that fully automated creativity can feel hollow, creating demand for AI “co‑pilots” meant to amplify human agency rather than replace it.