From Singapore to Shanghai, a new era of intelligent cities is taking shape, and it’s powered by a not-so-secret weapon: 5G Advanced (5G-A). According to a new Counterpoint Research report, the top AI cities in the world are those deploying 5G-A to supercharge smart urban services from cloud gaming to emergency response. But even as cities like Beijing and Dubai charge ahead, a different story is unfolding across Africa. A story of ambition, resilience, and a growing AI spark that’s impossible to ignore.
The Rise of the Top AI Cities in the World: 5G-A Meets the Future
In a ranking of the top AI cities in the world, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, and Dubai scored highest for blending advanced AI initiatives with sophisticated 5G-A infrastructure. Singapore, for example, tops the chart with a score of 84, and it’s not just about fast internet. The city-state is leveraging intelligent networks to streamline everything from healthcare to transportation.
Meanwhile in Beijing, China Unicom has transformed old phone booths into 5G-A towers. The result? Stadiums with uplink speeds of up to 4Gbps, powering real-time AI experiences for tens of thousands of users. In Dubai, telco du is rolling out the region’s largest indoor 5G-A network, enabling precision tracking and next-gen applications in malls, museums, and more.
The secret sauce in all these cities? Uplink. Unlike traditional networks built around download speeds, AI agents, the future of mobile interaction, require robust uplink bandwidth to function in real time. Think of self-driving cars navigating traffic or robots inspecting subway lines — these tasks depend on a constant stream of data going up, not just down.
That said, here is a list of the top AI cities in the world right now according to the Counterpoint Research report:
- Singapore – Score: 84
- Seoul – Score: 82
- Beijing – Score: 78
- Dubai – Score: 76
- San Francisco – Score: 71
- Hong Kong – Score: 67
- Tokyo – Score: 66
- Abu Dhabi – Score: 63
- New York City – Score: 61
- Shanghai – Score: 61
- London – Score: 60
- Paris – Score: 60
- Madrid – Score: 60
- Shenzhen – Score: 58
- Boston – Score: 57
Why 5G-A Matters for Smart Cities
So what makes 5G-A such a game-changer for the top AI cities in the world?
- Intelligent Uplink: It boosts upload speeds dramatically, enabling real-time cloud processing for AI.
- Lower Latency: Essential for instant feedback in autonomous systems and emergency response.
- Smart Energy Management: Reduces network power usage, making it more sustainable.
- Multi-Layer Coordination: Ensures seamless connectivity, even in high-density environments.
These technical breakthroughs are fueling not just consumer convenience but entire ecosystems from smart metros in Shanghai to drone management networks in Hong Kong. AI is no longer limited to apps; it’s becoming the invisible infrastructure behind how cities operate.
Across the continent, we’re seeing the early signals of a larger AI awakening.
- Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa are leading global AI adoption in key industries, according to a KPMG report.
- 15 African startups, including a few from Kenya, were recently selected for the Google for Startups Accelerator: AI Africa.
- Banks like I&M are integrating AI via partnerships like the one with ThetaRay for AML compliance, a move that’s more about real-world impact than hype.
It’s not just ambition; it’s action.
Africa Isn’t Part of the Top AI Cities in The World Debate, For Now
We won’t sugarcoat it: Africa isn’t anywhere near the top AI cities in the world yet. Our cities don’t boast stadium-wide 4Gbps uplinks (akin to what we saw at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for transmitting footage from referee body cameras, and other technologies) or metro robots doing real-time inspections. The infrastructure gap is wide, and the funding, talent scarcity, and policy frameworks still need work.
But we’re not sitting on the sidelines. We’re iterating, experimenting, and in some areas, like mobile money innovation, leading. Our AI revolution might not look like China’s or Dubai’s, but it’s uniquely ours. And with the right support, especially in laying 5G foundations, there’s every chance that cities like Nairobi, Lagos, and Cape Town could join the global leaderboard in the years to come.
The current top AI cities in the world are building tomorrow’s cities today with 5G Advanced as their power grid and AI as the engine. But as they race ahead, Africa is crafting its own path. A little slower? Sure. But equally determined, creative, and hopeful.
