Increasingly, data and AI are seamlessly integrated within many aspects of our daily lives. From chatting to virtual assistants to advanced algorithms rendering lifelike images, the role of technology is ubiquitous, says Gordon Johnstone, head of DataFest at The Data Lab
At our most diverse Data Summit to date last November, we welcomed a mix of data scientists, nuclear chemists, genomics experts, entrepreneurs, professors, astrodynamicists, journalists and broadcasters from around the world.
The 600-strong audience heard first-hand from these experts about how data and AI is shaping the way we live and work.
The pressing need for regulation and evermore complex ethical considerations around data handling were hot topics, with the event providing a forum for discussion around the delicate balance between the benefits of data-driven advancements and the potential risks of privacy erosion.
Here are some of the key themes discussed at Data Summit and more specifically, how they translate to the built environment.
To regulate or not to regulate – that is the question
The question of whether you should – or, indeed, can – regulate artificial intelligence has been a perpetual trope in politics, technology and sci-fi for decades.
Although recent conversations, some even involving world leaders, are certainly a step in the right direction, there is much work to be done.
Regulators continue to face challenges in keeping pace with AI; there’s no one-size-fits-all approach or single way to regulate it. It’s a series of technologies that can be used in countless ways, each of which have different consequences and require distinct regulatory approaches. The sooner we recognise and embrace that, the sooner we can progress.
These are considerations that are becoming unavoidable within the built environment. The ethical use of data and AI is crucial to ensuring the responsible and sustainable development of urban spaces. As cities become smarter and more interconnected, data-driven technologies play a pivotal role in optimising infrastructure, energy consumption and overall urban functionality.
For example, Blackwood Homes, who partnered in a consortium with The Data Lab, received funding from the UKRI’s Healthy Ageing Trailblazers to build homes and communities using smart meter data to infer health and wellbeing measures. On top of aiming to improve quality of life, tackle digital exclusion and transform social care practice, this project has de-risked and encouraged businesses to explore further investment into the switchover from analogue to digital care systems. This has proved a crucial, and at times lifesaving, step in the right direction.
Awareness is rising of the security and risks associated with data and AI
Additionally, with the power to impact sectors such as finance, regulation and data trading, privacy and security are becoming paramount considerations for businesses.
This shift is particularly critical for sectors dealing with sensitive data for infrastructure, urban planning and construction.
As our personal data is held in more and more places online, we have greater reason than ever to care about privacy. Unauthorised access or misuse of this data poses a significant threat, potentially compromising the safety and security of both critical infrastructure and urban populations.
In the age of smart homes, cities and manufacturing, safeguarding privacy and ensuring robust security measures are imperative to maintaining public trust and mitigating security risks.
AI: A cultural revolution
Although professionals in the built environment are highly aware of the opportunities presented by data, scepticism stemming from a lack of trust in the technology still exists. Although this does act as a barrier at times, it can be a good thing.
It acts as a safeguard against the proliferation of misinformation and deepfakes, preventing the risk of users disengaging with data-driven insights entirely.
The cultural impact of AI extends to urban planning. Culture plays a huge role in enhancing social interactions which, in turn, can help cities be more inclusive, tolerant and safe. The interplay between AI and culture is dynamic, influencing not only how we perceive and interact with data but also reshaping urban landscapes.
Take InfiniCity, for example, a generative AI model launched in 2023. The 3D rendered streets are made using a series of software programs, among other design tools and algorithms.
Using satellite data, the InfiniCity framework synthesises arbitrary-scale and traversable 3D city environments, while also allowing interactive input and editing from users.
Although we still have a way to go with AI technologies, projects like this will open the doors to more discussions about how AI shapes and transforms cultural norms and practices within the realm of urban planning.
A powerful tool to be used with care
Ethical considerations around data collection and privacy cannot be overstated. Keeping regulations clear, manageable and flexible to the changing nature of AI is essential to ensuring continued growth.
By taking an ethical approach to data and AI, trust will build among businesses and will allow them to harness the power of data and AI to create intelligent, inclusive and eco-friendly environments that prioritise the wellbeing of the community.
Gordon Johnstone
Head of DataFest
The Data Lab
Tel: +44 (0) 131 651 4905
