Strategic Optimism for Smart Cities: Creating Urban Innovation That Amplifies Human Potential Through Meaningful Experiences

As cities worldwide race to become "smart," we face a crucial question: Are we creating cities optimized for technology, or cities designed for human flourishing? In this visionary keynote, Kate O'Neill—the pioneering Tech Humanist and advisor to organizations from the City of Amsterdam to Google to the United Nations—explores how smart cities can move beyond technological novelty to create meaningful human experiences at scale. Through compelling case studies and cross-domain insights, Kate shows how city leaders can make technology decisions that bridge the digital divide, foster inclusive communities, and create meaningful experiences for all citizens. 

Audiences will gain practical frameworks for evaluating technology investments based on meaningful human outcomes, ensuring digital infrastructure bridges rather than widens the digital divide, and fostering community connections alongside technological advancement.