Comparing London and Shanghai as Digital Cities

Abstract

Smart or digital city projects are sweeping the world at an alarming rate. The rapid pace of technological development, the process of digitisation, 5g, AI, blockchain technology, etc., has led to cities becoming more similar in their engagement with digital, but individual cities still have different forms of expression. These differences are not only reflected in the way they engage with digital, but also in the different models, concepts and objectives, and capital models of digital city development. This paper compares London and Shanghai (China's cultural and economic capital as digital cities, the ways in which they engage with the digital in their specific contexts, and the similarities and differences in their digitalisation processes. And in the 'Discussion' section, the article outlines the key points and the logic behind them, and identifies the shortcomings of the research.