Pune: In the age of increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in systems, juxtaposed with unending complaints of administrative apathy, many city residents believe that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) can harness new-age technology to address civic issues, ranging from waste collection to traffic decongestion to improved security.AI acts as a catalyst for addressing major civic challenges like laboratory and biomedical waste management. It can help reduce environmental hazards and improve safety standards through data intelligence and process automation. Thus, it helps build an advanced public healthcare system — Pallavi Bhatevara | Businesswoman AI can help improve the functioning of our cities through effective garbage collection and personalized digital learning for students. It can further help maintain water supply and public safety. However, it should be used responsibly and without compromising on our personal data — Siya Padwal | Student AI can be used for tracking, identifying and doing impact assessment of pollution causing industrial plants and vehicles. AI-enabled robots can be used for sorting of waste. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) can be used to detect number plates of vehicles parking incorrectly. AI-enabled LEDs can be installed at roadways for giving speed signals to vehicles. Notifications will go to police apps that can be used to charge a Rs1,000 fine to rule-breakers. It can also be used for time management of traffic signals, especially helpful for ambulances — Steve Ismail | Retired brigadier AI can transform urban chaos into order by acting as a real-time nervous system, replacing static schedules with data-driven management. It can improve sanitation through sensor-based waste collection and reduce traffic through rule enforcement and adaptive signals. It can also be used to provide instant litter detection and noise monitoring. Thus, AI can help foster a smart environment for a proactive and efficient form of governance— Aditya Saraf | Software engineer The increasingly compromised air quality level (AQI) can be properly monitored through AI, which can then warn people about rising pollution levels. This can then encourage citizens to use public transport and carpooling, thereby promoting a cleaner environment. This technology has the potential to bring about a significant change in a civic landscape — Ashwini Mathpati | Teacher — Compiled by Rohan Nakate
