SONEUK Explores AI and Smart Cities in its Fifth Webinar

London: The Society of Nepalese Engineers UK (SONEUK) successfully held its fifth webinar on 21 September 2025 as part of the “SONEUK Webinar Series,” under the title “The City that Cares – Merging Engineering, Technology and AI to Create Spaces that Look After People.”

The session was presented by seasoned AI professional Mr Rohit Ail, Head of Technology at Samsung, and moderated by Dr Rudra Paudel, Vice Chairperson of SONEUK.

Chairperson Er Subodh Timilsina opened the session by paying tribute to the young lives lost during the GEN-Z protest on 8 and 9 September 2025. He expressed hope that this event would mark the beginning of a new era in Nepal and that the sacrifices of the young lives would be honoured. He then welcomed the speaker, moderator, and participants.

Mr Rohit Ail began with a brief introduction, providing an overview of an imaginative world where “buildings monitor air quality and adjust ventilation automatically, transport networks adapt in real time to reduce delays, and community services anticipate needs before they arise.” The presentation focused on how emerging engineering, technology, and AI can shape urban spaces, highlighting practical examples from cities and nations around the world. It also explored different city components such as infrastructure, mobility and transport, the energy sector, healthcare, and wellbeing.

The discussion further examined topics including balancing human wellbeing and sustainability, leveraging AI-powered tools for efficient urban planning, optimising resources through data analytics, and enhancing citizen experiences. Participants asked insightful questions on issues ranging from the link between sustainability and smart cities to ITS systems and integrating smart city components into civil infrastructure.

Concerns regarding surveillance, the digital divide, and digital literacy for non-tech-savvy individuals were also raised, alongside challenges related to data reliability and accuracy.

The session concluded successfully, providing an insightful discussion on one of the most relevant topics in smart cities and AI. In his closing remarks, the SONEUK Chairperson thanked Mr Rohit Ail for his presentation, Dr Rudra Paudel for moderating, and all contributors and participants for their active engagement, acknowledging SONEUK’s valuable collaboration in making the event a success.