Robots welcoming visitors, writing Chinese calligraphy and demonstrating industrial applications offered a glimpse of how artificial intelligence is moving beyond laboratories and into everyday settings.

The demonstrations took place last Wednesday at an intelligent manufacturing facility in Ningbo, eastern China, during a dialogue on how technological innovation is changing cities. Representatives from local governments, international organizations and industry gathered to discuss the relationship between technology, urban governance and development.

As cities increasingly turn to AI and digital technologies, however, a fundamental question deserves attention: What should technological progress ultimately achieve?

For Liu Meng, Head of China Office with the United Nations Global Compact, the answer lies in putting people first. People and their needs, she stressed, must remain in the driver's seat. AI should serve humanity, rather than allow technological development to become an end in itself.

This principle is particularly important as digital technologies become more deeply integrated into urban life. AI can create new possibilities for public services, improve the efficiency of urban operations and provide new tools for addressing complex challenges. But the adoption of advanced technology does not, by itself, make a city better to live in.

The real question is whether these innovations respond to people's needs. Are public services becoming more accessible? Can residents benefit from digital development? Does technological progress contribute to a better living environment? These are among the questions that should guide how cities assess the value of innovation.

A city may become more technologically advanced without necessarily becoming more inclusive or responsive. If digital services are difficult for some residents to access, or if technological development overlooks the needs of certain communities, the benefits of innovation will remain unevenly distributed.

This is why the principles guiding technological development matter as much as the technologies themselves.

Liu highlighted the United Nations Global Compact's ten principles, which cover human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. These principles provide a framework for businesses to consider their broader responsibilities as technology reshapes economic and social activities.

The Global Digital Compact, adopted by world leaders in 2024 as part of the Pact for the Future, also places digital inclusion, human rights in the digital space and the governance of emerging technologies on the international agenda. It reflects a growing recognition that digital transformation should advance alongside efforts to protect people's rights and ensure that the digital space remains inclusive and accessible.

The environmental dimension is equally important. As digital infrastructure expands, its energy consumption and environmental impact deserve greater attention. Liu noted that investment in digital infrastructure, including projects associated with the Belt and Road Initiative, should be green, energy-efficient, climate-friendly and sustainable. Technological progress should not come at the expense of environmental sustainability.

For city governments and businesses, this means looking beyond the immediate gains in efficiency and productivity. Decisions about technology investment should also consider its social and environmental implications, as well as the extent to which it improves people's everyday lives.

Ningbo's dialogue brought these questions into focus by connecting the practical applications of intelligent technology with a broader discussion about urban development. The demonstrations at the manufacturing facility showed what technology can do. The discussion raised a more important question: what should it do for people?

A smart city is not defined simply by the number of AI applications it deploys or the degree to which its operations are automated. Its value lies in whether technology makes public services more accessible, improves the quality of urban life and supports development that is inclusive and sustainable.

Ultimately, technology should be a means to a better life, not an end in itself. The measure of a smart city is not how much technology it deploys, but how much it improves people's lives.