Academics from The University of Warwick are at the forefront of new discussions exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in everyday settings to benefit local communities.

As part of the recent AI in the Street project, led by Professor Noortje Marres of the Warwick Centre for Interdisciplinary Methods, researchers joined national and international partners to examine how AI technologies, such as sensors, drones, and smart traffic systems, impact urban life and what can be done to ensure that they serve the public good.

Professor Theo Damoulas from Warwick’s Department of Statistics and Computer Science shared his insights during a debate at the London Science Gallery, highlighting how AI is more embedded in cities than many realise: “AI is used for a range of purposes, from shop placement to monitoring sewage, but its hidden presence creates misunderstandings about its role in addressing local needs.”

Supported by Warwick and partners like Transport for West Midlands, the Scottish AI Alliance and London Office for Technology and Innovation, the AI in the Street project explored how communities experience AI. It brought together participants from Edinburgh, Coventry, Cambridge, London and featured contributions from Logan (Australia) to reveal gaps between innovation policy and everyday realities.

During a community event in Coventry, participants emphasised the need for AI technologies to become more visible and relatable. As one participant put it: “AI feels very hidden away – we don’t know where it is.” This sentiment points to a wider issue identified by the project: the lack of a clear social interface for AI in public spaces.

The project findings and recommendations, now published by partners Careful Industries, suggest that while policymakers are increasingly interested in using AI for the public good, community benefits are still often overlooked in favour of more technical or commercial goals, while local governments are finding it difficult to realise the promised benefits from AI.

Calum McDonald from the Scottish AI Alliance emphasised, “More needs to be done to demonstrate how AI is meaningful for communities, beyond assessments of environmental impact or the protection of data rights.”

The project’s Warwick-led public engagement activities in Coventry and beyond are now informing ongoing conversations about the role of AI in local policy development. The team’s research is highlighting the need for stronger community-based engagement to ensure AI is developed in a way that prioritises societal outcomes.

Looking ahead, the project’s insights are being shared with new government initiatives, including the Regulatory Innovation Office and a newly formed expert panel for digital innovation. These contributions are helping shape national strategies to ensure that AI in the street is not just about technological advancement, but about building vibrant, liveable communities.

To learn more about the project, its findings, and recommendations, visit the Careful Industries project page and the AI in the Street Substack.

Notes to Editors

Image One Caption: Sensing walk in an automated vehicle test street (Coventry, photo by Janet Vaughan, 2024)

Image Two Caption: “AI in the street” community workshop in the Weaver’s workshop (Coventry, photo by Janet Vaughan, 2024)