Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] Digital infrastructure will remain a key growth driver throughout 2026, with data monitoring technologies and smart-city solutions projected to grow rapidly, alongside continued interest in data center projects. Passle
• [New] The South Yorkshire city will test AI across local services, with four US tech companies - Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Adobe - helping to apply AI in schools, hospitals, GPs and business. Bez Kabli
• [New] Throughout the year, contracts will expire for hundreds of thousands of New York City public sector workers, including subway workers in May. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] The Ministry of Interior will dispatch 15 vehicles to both Hasakah and Qamishli cities to enhance security and begin the process of integrating SDF internal security forces into the MoI. Critical Threats
• [New] As cities navigate housing reform, transportation needs, climate resilience, AI and federal funding changes, 2026 will be a consequential year for how they govern, budget and protect their autonomy. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Cities need to start looking at interoperability and how AI agents can be safeguarded because the opportunities for bad actors to take advantage of agentic AI are endless. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Tesla's rolled out a sort of robot taxi service in a few cities and will be very, very widespread by the end of 2026 within the US. New York Post
• [New] In the United States, Waymo plans to expand to more than 20 cities while Cruise and Zoox scale urban fleets, and Tesla continues to refine its Full Self-Driving software. Short Term Rentals
• [New] At the World Economic Forum 2026, Telangana and the UAE agreed to explore collaboration for developing Bharat Future City, envisioned as India's first net-zero greenfield smart city and a global urban hub. Adda247
• [New] By 2026, the rise of smart cities will continue to reshape urban life in exciting ways. Nightlife
• [New] Dubai has moved from vision to active transformation as a smart city, it will affect how investors define and sustain value in property. Tesla Properties
• [New] The City of Los Angeles is developing its first Mobility Action Plan (MAP), which will guide how LA invests in streets, sidewalks, transit, biking, and walking for the next 20 years. Los Angeles Department of Transportation
• [New] Of the future megacities, 2 will be in India; Delhi is projected to become the world's most populous city around 2028, overtaking Tokyo, which has a declining population. Knowledge for policy
• [New] By 2030, there will be a projected 662 cities with at least 1 million inhabitants and 43 megacities, most of which will be in developing regions. Knowledge for policy
• [New] Robotaxis could reach dozens of major cities by the end of the year. TESMAG
• [New] In the United States, cities like Austin, Phoenix, and parts of Florida may offer early opportunities for owners to join robotaxi networks, assuming regulators and Tesla permit mixed private-plus-commercial usage. TESMAG
• [New] Elon Musk has predicted that robotaxis will be active in dozens of major cities by the end of the year, although his autonomy timelines have historically been optimistic. TESMAG
• [New] Cities' most damaging cybersecurity failures in 2026 will stem from the loss of operational control over emergency response, transportation, utilities and permitting systems. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] By 2027, 65% of cities worldwide will deploy AI agents across systems and data to orchestrate workflows and reduce workloads. Smart Cities Dive
• [New] Tesla plans to expand to seven more US cities in the first half of 2026 and started removing its employees from its robotaxis in Austin. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Government-backed smart city programs, active startup communities, and industrial AI investments are expected to create new opportunities in the United Kingdom. SkyQuest Technology Consulting

Last updated: 07 February 2026