Smart cities of the future could think for themselves
A new book by an AI and cybersecurity expert is warning that the cities of the future won’t just be “smart” – they could soon be thinking for themselves.
In Next-Generation Smart Cities: The Integration of AI, Blockchain, IoT and Emergent Networks, CQUniversity researcher Dr Mahmoud Elkhodr explores how urban technology is rapidly evolving from simple connected devices into networks of intelligent AI “agents” capable of making decisions, solving problems and communicating with each other in real time.
The book argues that the next generation of smart cities will operate less like a collection of gadgets and more like a living digital ecosystem. Instead of traffic sensors simply reporting congestion to a control room, future intersections could negotiate directly with buses, ambulances and neighbouring roads to instantly reroute traffic and reduce delays.
Dr Elkhodr said the shift represented a major leap beyond today’s Internet of Things, where devices mostly collect and send information for humans to interpret.
“For the past decade, smart cities have largely been about sensors and dashboards,” Dr Elkhodr said.
“What’s emerging now is something much more autonomous. These systems won’t just collect information, they’ll increasingly make decisions, communicate with one another and act on behalf of people and services in real time.”
Dr Elkhodr describes the evolution as moving from “smart devices” to “smart decision-makers”.
“It’s similar to the difference between a security camera recording footage and a security guard actively responding to a situation,” he said.
“The next wave of urban technology won’t just observe what’s happening in a city. It will react, adapt and coordinate solutions on its own.”
Developed over several years, the book is among the first major scholarly works to place “agentic AI” – artificial intelligence capable of autonomous reasoning and action – at the centre of future city planning.
While the technology could help cities become more efficient, responsive and resilient, Dr Elkhodr said the book also raises urgent questions about trust, safety and accountability.
“If an AI system makes a wrong decision in a hospital, transport network or energy grid, who is responsible?” he said.
“We have a narrow window to make sure these systems are designed ethically and governed properly before they become embedded in critical infrastructure.”
The book also examines how technologies such as blockchain and future 6G networks could help secure increasingly connected cities against cyber threats.
Dr Elkhodr said Australia’s growing investment in connected urban infrastructure made these conversations especially important now.
“The decisions we make today about how AI systems are trusted and governed will shape how our cities function for decades,” he said.
Dr Elkhodr leads research at CQUniversity’s Sydney campus across cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and emerging networks.
