Beyond smart cities: rethinking urban AI for inclusive development in the Global South

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping urban development across the Global South, offering opportunities to improve planning, public services, and resource management. However, AI-enabled systems operate within existing inequalities in infrastructure, representation, institutional capacity, and digital participation. This article argues that digital access alone is insufficient for inclusive urban AI. Drawing on data-justice scholarship and illustrative cases, it examines how AI can create uneven opportunities and risks for vulnerable populations. It calls for a context-sensitive approach that prioritises representative data, meaningful participation, accountability, human oversight, and safeguarding, ensuring that technological innovation contributes to more inclusive and equitable urban development outcomes.