BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Do cities with self-driving buses and cars make you uneasy? Do invisible cameras in public places make you feel like you're being watched? These are both characteristics of smart cities. With the use of artificial intelligence growing and people turning to digital technology more for everyday activities, we have to ask ourselves what we want the future to look like. Do we want cities to embrace this technology and use it to digitize the streets we walk on? HostingAdvice surveyed 3,000 people to find out which towns and cities' locals would most support turning their city into a smart city. Places like Helsinki, Finland; Seoul, North Korea; and even New York City have already started experimenting with smart city technology. Helsinki is focusing on going carbon neutral, and is working to make the entire city bus fleet electric. Seoul deployed CCTV and sensors across the city to monitor the streets, and employed a safety initiative using this technology to protect senior citizens who live alone. New York City is trying to make waste management more efficient, and creating digital spaces for the public, such as charging stations in place of phone booths. In North Dakota, three cities expressed skepticism about smart cities, while two said they're ready to embrace them. Bismarck, Minot, and West Fargo said they would vote to reject the technology, while Grand Forks and Fargo are all for embracing it. The biggest concern for North Dakotans (24%) is a potential loss of privacy due to increased surveillance. Many worry that this technology might turn North Dakota cities into environments like that of Chongqing, China, which has 2.6 million cameras installed around the city, one of the highest concentrations in the world. This technology allows the government to track people in real time, which raises fears about the constant monitoring and loss of personal freedom. Government control or interference (28%) and a lack of transparency about how data is used (10%) are the other main concerns of North Dakotans. 52% of respondents from the Peace Garden State said that it is likely or very likely that smart cities could lead to a "Big Brother" society. In the rest of the country, the biggest support for smart cities comes from Los Angeles, New York City, Buffalo, and Dallas. California, Florida, New York, and Texas each have two cities in the top 10, suggesting a larger willingness to embrace this technology in cities with greater populations. The top 10 are: Los Angeles, California New York City, New York Buffalo, New York Dallas, Texas Jacksonville, Florida San Francisco, California Atlanta, Georgia Fort Worth, Texas Tampa, Florida Seattle, Washington Are people moving out of North Dakota? More than half of respondents did say they support their cities going smart, but 34% said they feared they would lose their privacy if there was surveillance everywhere. 10% said they would be uncomfortable if there was surveillance. Other concerns people have include data security and hacking risks (28%), unwanted government control and interference (28%), and lack of transparency about how data is used (10%). Some residents expressed concerns about what cities would have to do to install this technology. 32% were worried about the cost of the infrastructure, and 18% said cybersecurity threats could be a problem. Other concerns include public opposition due to potential privacy issues (19%), technological limitations (16%), and governmental regulations (15%). Opposition to smart cities is greatest in these cities: Wheeling, West Virginia Lakewood, Colorado Missoula, Montana Orem, Utah Overland Park, Kansas Owensboro, Kentucky Rutland, Vermont Springdale, Arkansas West Fargo, North Dakota West Jordan, Utah Despite these concerns, 57% of people said they would feel comfortable in smart cities. 32% said they would result in more efficient infrastructure and transportation, 30% said the technology could have a positive impact on environmental sustainability, and 24% said smart cities can help improve public safety. Overall, 70% of respondents said they believe the benefits of smart cities would outweigh the negatives, and only 26% believe smart cities could lead to a "Big Brother" type of society. "While the advantages of smart innovations are undeniable, it's important we acknowledge residents' concerns over privacy and how their data is handled," says Christina Lewis of HostingAdvice. "A truly smart city isn’t just about the tech — it’s about building trust and ensuring that these advancements genuinely improve the quality of life for everyone." To read the full study, go to the HostingAdvice website. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW