Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Charles Lin, the Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung, for an exclusive interview. He shared valuable insights into the city’s latest advancements in smart city development, highlighting key initiatives and future strategies.
Smart City Summit and Future Strategies
Kaohsiung continues to lead the charge in smart city development with the upcoming 2025 Smart City Summit in Expo. This fourth edition of the summit aims to enhance industry cooperation, encourage citizen participation in urban development, and foster international exchange.
With over 150 exhibitors, 500 booths, and 220 professional forums, the event is set to attract global participation and showcase cutting-edge smart city solutions. By integrating resources from industry, government, academia, and research institutions, the summit serves as a platform for securing domestic and international investment and forming strategic alliances.
AI-Powered City Governance and Services
In a pioneering move, the Kaohsiung city government is advancing a city-level generative AI platform tailored to local language, culture, and data needs. By developing large language models and vision-language models, the city is constructing a sovereign AI system that will optimize public services and foster new business models.
Through partnerships with both domestic and international stakeholders, Kaohsiung aims to establish the world’s first city-scale AI platform, setting a precedent for AI-driven urban management.
Smart Healthcare Initiatives
The city is making significant strides in smart healthcare through collaborations with major medical centers. A key focus is the implementation of federated learning, which enables hospitals to share data securely while maintaining patient privacy and cybersecurity. This approach enhances diagnostic accuracy and improves patient treatment outcomes.
Additionally, smart healthcare solutions such as remote healthcare and AI-assisted medical image analysis are being developed and exported internationally, solidifying Kaohsiung’s reputation as a hub for medical innovation.
Digital Infrastructure Upgrades
Kaohsiung is leveraging cutting-edge technology to refine urban management. By utilizing data analysis from various sources, the city can monitor and evaluate urban areas with greater precision. The integration of digital twins plays a crucial role in this transformation, allowing predictive scenario modeling to support informed decision-making.
This technology enhances infrastructure management, facilitates disaster prevention, and aids in carbon dioxide reduction calculations, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.
Semiconductor Technology and Smart City Development
Kaohsiung’s advanced semiconductor ecosystem, anchored by the presence of industry giant TSMC, is a driving force behind its smart city transformation. Strategic collaborations with TSMC and Nvidia provide the high-speed computing power necessary for AI applications in transportation, energy management, and public safety.
By fostering a cooperative innovation ecosystem, the city aims to attract top-tier technology and talent, furthering its mission to develop and export leading smart city solutions.
Closing Thoughts
Kaohsiung’s commitment to smart city development is evident in its forward-thinking strategies across multiple sectors. From hosting an international summit to pioneering AI-driven governance, enhancing healthcare, upgrading digital infrastructure, and leveraging semiconductor technology, the city is setting a global benchmark.
These initiatives not only strengthen Kaohsiung’s position as a leader in smart urban development but also pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future.
