AI and Smart Cities: Balancing Innovation and Ethics with Brian Flanagan from Ingram Micro and Kelvin Lwin from Centific
In this engaging episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, Fanni Melles, PhD, sits down with Brian Flanagan from Ingram Micro and Kelvin Lwin from Centific to explore the transformative role of AI in smart cities.
Brian, a retired U.S. Air Force senior non-commissioned officer and business development executive, drives smart cities, ed tech, and public safety initiatives at Ingram Micro, one of the world’s largest IT distributors.
Kelvin, a computer science and AI expert with 20 years of meditation practice, leads Centific’s efforts in building ethical, empathetic AI, including the Assistive Learning Intelligence Navigator.
Together, they discuss what makes a city smart, the necessity of technology, and AI’s evolution from intelligent assistance to ambient intelligence. From real-world wins like AI-powered police reports to the ethical challenges of data and centralization, this conversation offers a balanced look at AI’s promise and pitfalls.
Tune in for insights on building smarter, more human-centered cities!
Key Takeaways
0:00 - Introduction: AI as Ambient Intelligence
1:20 - Welcome to the Smart Cities Council Podcast!
1:40 - Introducing Brian Flanagan and Kelvin Lwin
3:20 - What Does "Smart City" Mean to Brian and Kelvin?
4:40 - Can a City Be Smart Without Technology?
7:10 - The Genie’s Out of the Bottle: Technology’s Inevitability
8:40 - AI’s Impact on Work-Life Balance and Fragility
10:20 - What Does AI Mean to Brian and Kelvin?
12:30 - AI’s Energy, Water, and Food Challenges
14:10 - The Cost of AI Pleasantries and Misaligned Incentives
15:20 - Open Source AI: Transparency vs. Guardrails
18:30 - AI as a Centralizing Force and Human Problem
21:00 - The Need for Wisdom in AI Adoption
22:50 - Ethical Burdens on Technologists
24:20 - The Dangers of Information in AI Systems
26:30 - Positive AI Examples: Safe Cities and First Responders
30:20 - Centific’s Verity: Automating Police Reports
31:20 - Closing Thoughts: Lean In and Stay Literate
Learn more about Brian Flanagan and Ingram Micro:
Brian Flanagan on LinkedIn
Ingram Micro website
Ingram Micro on LinkedIn
@IngramMicroInc as Ingram Micro on X
Kelvin Lwin on LinkedIn
Centific website
Centific on LinkedIn
@CentificGlobal as Centific on X
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