Shenzhen, another major Chinese city, made the top 20 by ranking 14th in the Intelligent Cities Index 2026, released by global consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

A view of Shanghai in 2018. Photo by Unsplash

The index assessed 61 major cities across 39 countries based on how effectively they use technology to serve residents and businesses.

Cities were evaluated across five key areas: resident outcomes, intelligent city strategy, technology adoption, ways of working, and enabling factors like infrastructure, talent, and funding.

London topped the overall ranking, followed by Dubai, New York, Washington D.C., and Amsterdam.

Berlin, San Francisco, Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul completed the top 10, with Singapore following closely in 11th place, putting seven Asian cities in the top 20.

20 most intelligent cities in 2026. Graphics by Boston Consulting Group

According to BCG, the world's leading intelligent cities do not necessarily excel in every area. Instead, they combine different strengths. Some cities achieve a balance across multiple domains, while others focus on specific areas like strategy, technology adoption, or innovation ecosystems.

The report highlighted artificial intelligence as a key foundation of these urban centers. Cities with higher levels of AI adoption tended to deliver better resident outcomes, including improved quality of life and greater economic opportunities.

BCG found that cities in the top third for AI adoption featured both more AI use cases and higher quality-of-life scores.

The study also found strong enthusiasm for generative AI among residents across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. People who use generative AI more frequently tend to view its potential to improve productivity, opportunities, and quality of life much more positively. This creates what BCG describes as a "virtuous circle" of adoption, satisfaction, and further innovation.

However, BCG noted that technology alone is not enough to create a highly intelligent city. The most mature urban centers combine hard enablers, such as data, technology, and infrastructure, with soft enablers like talent, funding, and strong innovation ecosystems.

To sustain digital transformation, the report recommends that cities establish clear long-term technology priorities. It also suggests strengthening governance and public-private partnerships, expanding proven AI-enabled services, and investing heavily in the necessary infrastructure, skills, and ecosystems.