Tallinn-based Starship Technologies accelerates AI-powered robot delivery in Leeds. Source: https://techinformed.com/co-op-rolls-out-robotic-delivery-service-in-leeds/

Let’s step back for a moment. We’ve begun to see what delivery drones, autonomous vehicles, and advanced humanoid robots could do, at least on social media or in the movies. Technically, they have advanced significantly. Unitree’s G1 coordinated robots have overwhelmed audiences with their coordination and agility. They are all over social media, but the general public has had very little direct interaction with robots. Maybe you might have seen them in a mall or airport, but perhaps not yet along a public sidewalk.

Public Mobile Robots and you! Source: https://marketplace.eiturbanmobility.eu/insights/advancing-public-area-mobile-robots-a-municipal-guidebook

Like Paul Revere’s famous ride in 1775, warning that the British were coming, the call came out: the robots are coming, the robots are coming! I was asked to speak about the impact of Public Mobile Robots (PMRs) accessing the public realm, especially sidewalks, through the lens of an urban planner and urban designer. I thought, OK, I could do that, but first I need to speak with other planners who have actually worked with them. I hadn’t, but I was aware of them from the Intelligent Community Forum’s partnership with the Toronto-based Urban Robotics Foundation that had done a lot of foundational work on the topic.

Local governments everywhere are racing to deploy AI in hope of improving services, communicating better and saving money. At ICF, we have seen the AI projects of Intelligent Communities grow more impressive every year. But there’s an untold story.  As a recent article put it, “an AI arms race has begun between the state and citizens, and it is not clear that the state will win.”

In the UK, local councils are responding to public frustration by developing tools that speed up housing approvals. But they are also being overwhelmed by AI-generated objections to proposed housing developments. For the low-low price of £45, the Objector AI platform will scan planning documents, draw up legal grounds for opposition and even write a speech to be read aloud at a public meeting.

A Global Reference in Smart City and Intelligent Community Development

I’ve been to Columbus and Central Ohio several times, and I am always impressed by the region’s dynamic blend of innovation, culture, and Midwest charm. It offers visitors an inviting destination where vibrant and historic neighborhoods, scenic parks, acclaimed museums, and a thriving restaurant scene come together. Whether they wander the riverfront, enjoy the energy of the Short North Arts District, experience the wonders of the Columbus Zoo, or explore the nearby towns, visitors will be impressed by the region’s rich history and welcoming spirit. According to my Ohio friends, they tell me that “in Columbus, the soul of the city lives in its makers, dreamers, and communities that welcome everyone in.”

In the USA, asking that question is not a quick way to make friends. It suggests you’re concerned about the mental stability of the person you’re asking. But for the Intelligent Community Forum, it is the start of a serious inquiry.

In 2024, we began certifying cities, counties and regions as Intelligent Communities, which offers them a unique distinction with a very specific meaning.  This autumn, we will announce the Intelligent Community Certification of three new communities in Europe. 

It means that they have high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development and a well-structured business innovation ecosystem. It certifies that they have meaningful community engagement, digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place. This matrix of support enables them to grow innovative businesses, meet their talent needs and provide inclusive prosperity and a high quality of life to the people who that place their home. 

The ICF VIP Delegation at the Top7 Brightlands-Limburg Conference and Extended Site Visit to Eindhoven included 15 participants and leaders representing the USA, Canada, Taiwan, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The 2026 ICF VIP Delegation visited Taiwan from March 16-20, 2026, engaging in smart city  initiatives, technological showcases, and cultural exchanges across Taipei, Taichung, Yunlin,  and related sites, emphasizing digital transformation, AI applications, and community-driven  innovation. The delegation included 16 international representatives from the USA, Canada, the  Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Brazil, India, and Taiwan; unfortunately, additional members  from Ghana and Turkey were unable to secure visas. Thanks to our partnership with ICF Taiwan,  along with ITRI, ADI, the Taiwan Tourism Administration, and SCSE, the focus of the first day  was on digital transformation and AI applications in local companies in Taipei.  

The towns, cities, and regions of the Smart City and the Intelligent Community Movement



As I stood at each one of the announcements this year of the Intelligent Community Awards program, I thought to myself, “What an extraordinary moment it is to stand at the intersection of innovation, inclusion, and global community-building”.

The past year has shown us, once again, that the Intelligent Community movement is not merely an idea—it is a living, evolving force powered by cities and regions that dare to imagine a better future and work tirelessly to build it.

The year 2025 stands as a testament to what visionary leadership, purposeful innovation, and a commitment to inclusive progress can achieve. Across the Intelligent Community Forum network, communities large and small demonstrated how digital connectivity, talent development, and future‑ready governance can transform local ambition into global leadership.

For the second consecutive year, ICF partnered with the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the largest annual Smart City conference in the world.

This year, ICF coordinated a VIP Delegation with a curated agenda for the week, bringing together participants from around the world to explore, learn, and contribute to the conversations defining how cities adapt, innovate, and thrive.

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality is the first TOP7 Intelligent Community in Türkiye. Izmir and Konya Metropolitan Municipalities have met ICF’s Smart21 level, but Bursa has successfully leapt forward, and in its first year of applying, has impressed the adjudicators to make it to the 2025 TOP7. I was interested in finding out how this happened and undertook the site visit as this year’s TOP7 auditor to Bursa. I am glad I did. I was thoroughly impressed. Bursa’s leaders are proud that their community was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and the terminus of the Silk Road. It is a double UNESCO World Heritage community, has had an amazing growth trajectory as an industrial leader, and is seeking to become a world leader in innovation and sustainability through its transition into a digital ecosystem. But they do not dwell on the past nor ignore it.