Beyond Smart Cities: Dallas Ranks High in Global Cities' AI Readiness Index

Dallas sits at No. 8 in the world and third in the nation in the Global Cities’ AI Readiness Index conducted by The Oliver Wyman Forum, which evaluates how cities are prepping for tech that can disrupt the way we live and work. With the rise of “the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s wholesale change of the way we work and live,” the index is designed to help answer the question of “What does urban AI resilience look like?“

The index affirms Dallas’ top place among cities that have embraced AI. For example, Dallas has the Smart Cities Living Lab program in the West End Historic District, which incorporates high-tech—including AI—into its program.

Readiness Index focuses on AI disruption

The forum conducted global research on 105 cities across 31 metrics to better understand the potential disruption created by artificial intelligence. According to a statement, the organization is going to move beyond admiration for things such as “smart cities” and begin a data-informed conversation on how to address the real opportunities and challenges brought on by AI disruption.

The forum’s research includes a survey of city residents and conversations with leaders in government, academia, and business, along with publicly available socioeconomic data.

Dallas technology. Beyond Smart Cities: Dallas Ranks High in Global AI Readiness Index

Dallas ranked No. 8 in the world and third in the nation among large cities, according to the Global Cities’ AI Readiness Index. [Image: Dallas Technology Concept]

The index divides cities into four cohorts based on population, then ranks them based on an overall readiness score composed of four vectors capturing their ability to adapt and thrive in the coming age of AI.

Singapore was No. 1 in the large category, followed by Berlin, Chicago, Seoul, Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, Toronto, and Dallas. Houston trailed Dallas at No. 9, just ahead of Atlanta. Categories include megacities (10 million+ residents), large (5-10 million), medium (3-5 million), and small (up to 3 million).

The Oliver Wyman Forum aims to bring together “business, public policy, and social enterprise leaders in an effort to solve the world’s toughest problems.”

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.