Urban communities across the UK feel artificial intelligence is being built “around them, not for them” as a major new report warns that smart city technologies are failing to deliver tangible benefits to residents.
The study, led by the University of Warwick and Careful Industries, found that while technologies like smart road surfaces and autonomous vehicles are justified by efficiency savings, the public questions whether these innovations improve their daily lives.
“AI is increasingly embedded in everyday life – from the street to public services – yet most people feel it’s happening to them, not with them,” said Professor Noortje Marres, Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Warwick. “This report shows that if AI is to earn public trust, it must be made visible, discussed openly, and designed with communities, not just for them.”
Invisible yet intrusive
The report, titled AI in the Street, established five “observatories” in Cambridge, Coventry, Edinburgh, London and Logan, Australia. Researchers found that residents viewed AI systems as “invisible” yet intrusive, serving national stakeholders rather than local people.
In Coventry, for example, residents suggested live traffic monitoring should be used to create quieter streets and reduce pollution, rather than solely optimizing routes for vehicles. In Logan, participants noted that drone delivery trials could be repurposed as a modern “meals on wheels” service for the elderly rather than just grocery delivery.
“There’s a clear gap between how government and industry talk about AI and how people actually experience it,” said Rachel Coldicutt, founder of Careful Industries. “Giving communities a say in how these technologies are introduced isn’t just fairer – it’s essential if AI is to deliver real public value.”
The authors identified three critical mismatches between policy and experience: purpose, where efficiency trumps local need; beneficiaries, as residents rarely feel they are the recipients of innovation; and need, where AI solutions fail to address pressing community issues.
