Technology & Society
Connectivity, automation, and everyday technology are changing how cities run, how people work, and how communities live. This section looks at the programs, policies, and tools putting technology to work for real people, and what those changes mean for daily life.
We cover topics such as broadband access, digital equity grants, public-sector AI tools, and community technology projects. Each article explains who is affected and what changes for them, and links to official sources so you can check the details and find help or funding where it is available.
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Pittsburgh’s EZ Permits Pilot Targets One-Day Approvals
Pittsburgh’s EZ Permits pilot aims to issue low-risk home permits in one business day, based on applicant attestation. Here are the rules, limits, and what is unproven.
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Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Installs AI Wildfire Cameras
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is using ALERTWest AI cameras to spot smoke, with a person checking each alert. Officials report one grass fire flagged about a minute before the 911 call.
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Busan Expands AI Traffic Signals and Flood Detection
Busan finished a 2.9 billion won project that shares live signal status at 25 intersections and adds flood detection at 11 flood-prone crossings. The delay figures come from earlier pilots, not this expansion.
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Harvard’s Open Book Gives Towns a Free Budget Tool
Harvard’s Allen Lab released Open Book, a free open-source tool that lets towns publish searchable budget data. At least three Massachusetts local governments use it, and no savings have been measured.
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Panama City Mayor Launches PorchPing Agenda Alert App
Panama City’s free PorchPing app emails residents when a topic they chose appears on a city meeting agenda. Here is what it does, where it works, and what is still unknown.
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York County Libraries Expand Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending
York County Libraries in South Carolina now offer more than 200 Wi-Fi hotspots through a partnership with Mission Telecom. Checkout receipts list a $200 saving, a figure the sources do not explain.
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Sheffield, Alabama Approves a $3,000 AI Tool for City Staff
Sheffield’s city council voted unanimously to buy a top-tier SuperGrok subscription for $3,000 to help staff track five grant-funded projects. The mayor says no jobs are affected.
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Spring Lake, Michigan Adds SeeClickFix for Problem Reports
Spring Lake Village and Spring Lake Township in Michigan now offer SeeClickFix for reporting potholes, streetlights and drains. Here is how it works, what it cost, and what is still unproven.
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NYC Plans 600 More Curbside EV Chargers, Starting in 2027
New York City plans 600 new curbside EV charging points, bringing the total to nearly 700. Pricing is not set, installation starts in 2027, and street-safety groups object to the curb use.
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Toronto Pilots an AI Permit Pre-Check for Small Homes
Toronto launched a voluntary one-year AI pre-check on August 27 for small residential permits. It flags problems before submission but approves nothing.