We are building smart cities. A smart city is one that integrates society with its government and, through intelligent systems, detects needs and generates solutions, ideally in real-time. Smart cities use technology to become more sustainable and improve people’s quality of life and well-being.

Many factors contribute to a city being considered smart. For example, having energy-saving systems that enable intelligent consumption, recycling, waste reduction, or lower gas emissions; promoting telemedicine or remote assistance; and ensuring efficient traffic management, optimized public transportation routes, and sustainable infrastructure.

Never before have we had so many opportunities for growth: we have so many that we don’t even know which direction we will take. For humans, living in the present is a gift, and the future will be spectacular. In 30 years, we will look back, and everything will seem very strange. We may not know exactly what smart cities will look like in the future, but we do know they will be intelligent and cognitive.

We know that in the future, we will live in cities because it is the only way to preserve the rest of nature. If we spread out across the land, we will destroy everything within our reach. By 2050, 85% of the world’s population will live in cities, mainly because humans are inherently urban beings and need to live together to progress. Additionally, we must relieve nature from human pressure—everyone must have their own space.

Transportation will change so much that private cars may no longer be allowed in city centers, with public transportation becoming the sole means of mobility. Once we have control over city traffic and its traffic lights, everything will become much simpler and more automated. There will be no traffic jams, or if they do occur, they will be resolved much more efficiently than today. On the other hand, while we don’t know whether flying vehicles will exist, we can be certain that we will have autonomous vehicles. And if these vehicles operate autonomously, it is very likely that they will be able to fly.