As technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is on the brink of revolutionizing the ways that cities operate. By combining big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and emerging blockchain technology, metropolitan areas have the potential to use urban services to connect with residents and make life more convenient for everyone. Although a lot of the technology is still in the infancy stages of development, there are four places where smart cities are becoming a thing of the here and now:CHINA: The ushering in of the new digital era in China began in earnest in January 2013 when the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development announced plans to launch 1000 pilot smart cities. As the first city up, Yinchuan has already undergone the transformation to all paperless technology. The country's official plan to implement blockchain technology is already done and ready to roll out in the not so distant future.UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Always on the forefront of emerging technology, Dubai is a global leader in blockchain technology. The latest is a pilot program engineered to use blockchain to manage imported and exported products and services. ESTONIA: A surprising inclusion in this list is the nation of Estonia. Since 2012, the government has used distributed ledgers in its legislative, judicial and healthcare systems. As a proactive leader in identity security, the government has already launched a program designed to provide citizens with the ability to control and change their personal digital information.UNITED STATES: In the United States, the emergence of these new digital technologies is primarily taking place at the individual state levels. Delaware was the first step to take the leap when it announced the Delaware Blockchain Initiative in 2016. Since then states such as Illinois, West Virginia, and New York have followed suit with legislative initiatives of their own in an effort to encourage and support the use of AI and DLT to develop smarter cities.