As I look forward to Microsoft’s participation in Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, we’re excited to continue enabling city governments to put people first while using generative AI as part of their toolkits.
Building partnerships is an interpersonal endeavor. But it’s also a strategic decision that private sector organizations must make and a commitment that public sector organizations must also make to build the systems they need to support creative, collaborative work.
Throughout my life, I’ve traveled to many places for work, pleasure, and education. Often with family, sometimes alone. Whether I am in Barcelona or Buenos Aires, Austin or Cleveland, Doha or Tel-Aviv, or closer to home exploring Manhattan, I’m always struck by the variation in the built environment.
The pandemic has made clear how inaccessible many of our institutions and government services can be. This isn’t news. These challenges existed long before the pandemic and many people, including disability advocates, have been asking for improvements for years.
Last month I attended Smart Cities Expo in Barcelona—the first international in-person event I’ve been to since 2019. With public sector organizations all over the world focusing on infrastructure, the timing really could not have been better.
Among the challenges public sector agencies face, solving critical infrastructure problems are one of the most urgent. With cyberattacks, demands from citizens, and regulatory requirements growing in complexity, there is increasing pressure to deliver government services more effectively.
As the world emerges from a global pandemic, nations face a pivotal moment for government technology. Governments at every level are at the brink of digital transformation, but at the same time vulnerable to cyberattacks. Going forward, governments must invest in new technology and top-tier security software to deliver services while protecting critical infrastructure.
Mobility and transit are not only changing how people move around, they are key components of a changing urban landscape. Development of automated vehicles continued over the past year; electric vehicles are helping to tackle climate change; and a wealth of public and private mobility developments in cities have given residents more travel options than ever.
I love cities. I’ve been fortunate to live, learn, and work in some of the best in the world. Cities are hubs of cutting-edge technology and human productivity. But they also have rich histories, beautiful architecture, and complex cultures. Cities are places where the old constantly meets the new.