Balancing Environmental Sustainability and Privacy Ethical Dilemmas in AI-Enabled Smart Cities
Sheezan Farooq, Bazillah Farooq, Shakeel Basheer, Sandeep Walia
Abstract
As the world urbanizes, smart cities with AI-driven solutions promise to tackle urban challenges, including environmental sustainability. Yet, ethical concerns emerge, balancing environmental benefits with privacy, equity, and transparency. AI's data collection for resource management raises privacy issues, necessitating a balance between data efficiency and individual rights. Ensuring equitable distribution of smart city benefits is crucial to avoid deepening social inequalities. Transparency and accountability in AI decision-making are essential to build trust. AI's optimization should consider environmental ethics to preserve long-term ecological well-being. A human-centric approach must be upheld, safeguarding human agency and autonomy. Ethical considerations are vital in realizing the potential of AI for sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible smart cities. Policymakers, urban planners, and technology developers must collaborate to address these ethical challenges for a harmonious future.