The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of AI as a key driver of the transformation of modern megacities into 'smart cities.' It examines the main areas of AI application in urban management, from traffic flow management and resource conservation in public utilities to fundamentally new approaches to public safety and the provision of government services.
Special attention is given to the analysis of the global AI solutions market and a comparative study of national strategies and regulatory approaches of leading global players—China, the USA, the European Union, and Russia. The paper discusses how developed countries use AI to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life while facing challenges related to data protection and ethics. At the same time, the experience of developing countries is explored, where AI serves as a tool for a 'technological leap' to address fundamental problems of rapid urbanization, yet is accompanied by risks of digital inequality and technological dependence.
The article also identifies and systematizes the key challenges associated with implementing AI in urban environments: issues of cybersecurity, personal data protection, algorithmic bias, and risks of exacerbating digital inequality. Based on the analysis, strategic recommendations are formulated for Russia regarding the development of a balanced regulatory policy and positioning in the international arena amidst global competition.

WIP