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UN Launches First AI Toolbox for Smart Cities to Keep Humans in Control of Public Decisions
09 Nov 2026
The United Nations has introduced a new framework to help cities adopt artificial intelligence responsibly, placing human oversight, public accountability and residents' rights at the centre of digital urban development. Developed by ITU and UN-Habitat, the toolbox provides practical guidance for city governments worldwide.
Barcelona, 9 November 2026 – The United Nations has launched its first system-wide toolbox designed to help cities use artificial intelligence while ensuring that people remain responsible for decisions affecting public services and urban communities.
Unveiled on 4 November 2026 at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the U4SSC Toolbox for People-Centred Smart Cities in the AI Era was developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
The initiative provides mayors, city managers, urban planners and policymakers with practical guidance on introducing AI into public services, assessing potential risks and maintaining human accountability when automated systems influence government decisions.
The launch comes as local authorities increasingly explore AI applications for administrative services, infrastructure maintenance, public communication and urban planning. While these technologies can improve efficiency, their use also raises concerns about privacy, discrimination, transparency and the rights of residents.
The toolbox aims to help cities address these concerns before adopting new systems, rather than responding only after problems emerge.
Four Principles for Responsible AI in Smart Cities
The UN framework introduces four principles to guide how city governments evaluate and deploy AI.
The first requires authorities to begin with a clearly defined urban problem rather than introducing technology without understanding what residents need.
The second establishes that decisions affecting the public must remain under meaningful human control, with government officials retaining responsibility for the outcomes of automated processes.
The third calls for safeguards proportionate to the potential harm an AI system could cause. Applications affecting sensitive personal information or access to public services may require stronger controls than lower-risk administrative tools.
The fourth recognises that deciding against the use of AI can be an appropriate outcome when the technology introduces unnecessary risks or fails to offer sufficient public benefits.
Together, these principles provide a framework for evaluating AI projects before deployment and reviewing their performance after implementation.
From Public Service Chatbots to AI-Powered Urban Planning
AI is already being used by city authorities to respond to public enquiries, analyse infrastructure needs and support administrative decisions.
Chatbots can help residents obtain information about municipal services, while data analysis systems can assist local governments in identifying roads requiring maintenance or planning the allocation of resources.
However, the reliability of these applications depends on the accuracy of the information they use and the oversight arrangements established by public authorities.
An automated system that recommends infrastructure improvements based on incomplete data could overlook underserved neighbourhoods. Similarly, an AI application used in administrative processes could reproduce biases present in historical records.
The UN guidance encourages city governments to examine who benefits from a proposed application, who might be harmed and whether residents can challenge decisions influenced by automated systems.
The framework draws on urban digital transformation experiences from cities including Helsinki, Finland, and eThekwini, South Africa, demonstrating how approaches to technology governance can differ across economic and institutional settings.
UN Calls for Human Accountability in AI Decisions
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, emphasised that technology should be assessed according to its benefits for residents.
Smart, sustainable cities are defined by how well people benefit from technology designed to improve everyday living,
Bogdan-Martin said.
She explained that the U4SSC toolbox helps city officials turn international standards and responsible AI principles into practical guidance for public services.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, also stressed the importance of ensuring that technological development responds to the needs of communities.
Artificial intelligence and digital innovation must help cities better respond to the needs of communities, especially those living in informal settlements and other underserved areas,#
Rossbach said.
She called for improved data practices, stronger human rights protections and meaningful participation by residents and civil society in urban decision-making.
The statements reflect the initiative's emphasis on making AI adoption accountable to the people affected by its use.
An Eight-Step Framework for City Governments
The first release of the toolbox includes an implementation framework to help local authorities turn policy principles into operational decisions.
The guidance introduces an eight-step project cycle, supported by risk assessments, monitoring measures and practical templates that municipal teams can adapt to their circumstances.
City officials are encouraged to define the problem being addressed, evaluate available approaches, assess potential risks and establish clear accountability before introducing a new system.
The resource also includes a 100-day implementation plan, a three-year roadmap and tools to help authorities monitor progress.
Its supporting materials include guidance on procurement, public AI registers, staff policies and the responsibilities associated with deploying AI agents.
According to ITU's publication, more than 200 experts contributed to the guide, which draws on 15 case studies from 12 countries across four continents.
The material is designed for cities with different budgets and levels of digital maturity, including local governments without extensive internal AI expertise.
Supporting Smarter, More Inclusive Urban Development
The launch coincides with the tenth anniversary of United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC), a UN initiative established in 2016 to support sustainable urban development through digital technology.
Coordinated by ITU, UN-Habitat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the initiative is supported by 22 UN agencies and programmes.
Alongside the new AI toolbox, U4SSC has released publications addressing digital public infrastructure security, urban data platforms, measurement of digital transformation and long-term urban planning.
The resources aim to provide city governments with shared methods for evaluating digital investments and their effects on residents.
For municipalities planning to introduce AI into public administration, the new guidance offers a way to examine the relationship between technological efficiency, public trust and government responsibility.
The UN framework does not impose new legal obligations or replace national regulations. Instead, it provides a voluntary reference for cities developing their own approaches to digital governance.
As local governments expand their use of AI, the ability to explain automated decisions, protect personal information and maintain meaningful public oversight will influence whether these systems earn residents' trust.
About United for Smart Sustainable Cities
United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) is a United Nations initiative launched in 2016 to support sustainable digital transformation in cities.
The programme develops guidance, methodologies and performance indicators to help governments assess how technology can improve urban services while supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Its latest publication, Guiding Principles and Frameworks for People-Centred Smart Cities in the AI Era, represents the first release of the new AI toolbox.
- Official publications: https://u4ssc.itu.int/publications/
- International Telecommunication Union: https://www.itu.int/
- UN-Habitat: https://unhabitat.org/
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Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
