The Future of Urban Mobility: Connected, Coordinated, and City-Specific

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Welcome to a new week of insights and innovation.

In this edition, we explore the systems quietly (and not so quietly) reshaping how cities move, how businesses operate, and how technology is governed.

From AI agents delivering real value in financial automation, to mobility networks becoming smarter and more human-centered, this week’s stories are signals of a world in transformation:

This week’s highlights include:

• Smart Cities: 70% of People Will Live In Cities By 2050

• AI in Action: How Twin’s invoice-retrieving agent signals a shift from automation to intelligent digital operations.

• EV Strategy: The experience gap in public charging and how operators are moving beyond the plug.

• Digital Governance: Open-source developers are drawing a line against AI crawler overreach. What it means for ethics in training data.

• Intelligent Models: Google’s Gemini 2.5 and the rise of reasoning in AI, why deeper thinking is the next layer of capability.

• Big Games, Big Energy: Winnipeg Ready to Host the 2025 Grey Cup Festival

• Africa on the Rise: Africa’s Tech Startups Stay Strong, Even as Funding Slows

SMART CITIES:
70% of People Will Live In Cities By 2050

As urban populations swell, with nearly 70% of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050. The stress on transportation networks continues to grow. According to McKinsey, urban passenger transport demand is expected to double by mid-century. Add the rise of e-commerce and last-mile delivery vehicles, and cities are facing complex, overlapping challenges.

Tech-enabled Mobility Is Already Here

Innovative infrastructure technologies are stepping in to reshape how cities move. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), and congestion pricing are no longer conceptual, they're operational. ITS combines IoT, AI, and real-time analytics to reduce congestion and increase road safety. In Copenhagen, for example, adaptive traffic signals have improved traffic flow while lowering accident rates.

Congestion Pricing Works

Congestion charging in London and Singapore has demonstrated real results, cutting delays, boosting average speeds, and making public transport more reliable. Meanwhile, MaaS platforms like Jelbi and Whim are allowing commuters to plan, book, and pay for multimodal trips within a single interface.

Scaling Smart Cities Requires Shared Ownership

Still, technology alone isn’t enough. Implementing smart mobility systems at scale requires an ecosystem approach, one that unites municipalities, transport authorities, software providers, and citizens around shared outcomes. Each city must co-design its own system, rooted in its cultural, logistical, and policy realities.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
AI Agents in Action: From Theory to Enterprise Application

Twin, a Paris-based startup, is demonstrating how AI agents can move from concept to execution. Its Invoice Operator, developed for fintech company Qonto, automates a tedious task: retrieving and matching invoices to transactions across thousands of services.

Scriptless, Scalable Automation

Traditional RPA systems can’t keep up with the ever-changing structure of the internet. But Twin’s agent uses OpenAI’s Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, enabling it to interact with web environments like a human user. This approach has allowed Twin to support thousands of platforms in just a few months, far outpacing older automation frameworks.

Digital Operators, Not Digital Assistants

These strategic partnerships underline Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a nexus of innovation in AI and beyond. By fostering collaborations with global tech leaders, the Kingdom is laying the groundwork for a robust digital economy and positioning itself as a beacon for technological progress in the Middle East.

The future of work is task-based intelligence

Twin’s success reveals a broader shift: AI agents are moving beyond scripts to become adaptive operators embedded in business infrastructure.

EV STRATEGY:
Charging Toward the Future: What Will Define the Next EV Infrastructure Leaders?

Tesla remains the benchmark in public EV charging, but a recent Escalent report shows growing momentum for competitors. More than 70% of EV drivers said they’d consider switching networks if alternatives offered better access, faster service, and modern amenities like Wi-Fi and food.

Charging Is A Service, Not Just A Socket

This points to a key insight: EV adoption depends on experience, not just kilowatt-hours. Charge Point Operators (CPOs) like Electrify America and EVgo are beginning to evolve from utility providers into service brands, installing chargers in locations that mirror traditional fueling stations and bundling convenience-driven features.

Home Charging Is A Missed Opportunity

At home, the opportunity is even greater. A majority of consumers say they'd prefer automakers to manage the installation of home chargers. OEMs that simplify this process can convert hesitation into purchase intent.

Infrastructure strategy must now blend engineering with user design. The next wave of EV charging leadership will belong to those who understand the full customer journey, and build infrastructure that integrates into people’s lives, not just their vehicles.

DIGITAL GOVERNANCE:
Digital Defense: How Open Source Developers Are Resisting Unethical AI Scraping

AI models are hungry for data, and open source developers are paying the price. AI crawler bots, often ignoring robot.txt protocols, are overwhelming small FOSS communities, triggering outages and straining infrastructure.

Anubis, Nepenthes, and AI Labyrinth: Creative Countermeasures Emerge

Some developers are fighting back with humor and precision. Xe Iaso’s Anubis tool uses proof-of-work challenges to block malicious crawlers, while Nepenthes traps bots in infinite loops of meaningless content. These tools have gained rapid adoption and support from open-source networks worldwide.

The Message Is Clear: Data Ethics Must Be Built-in

Even Cloudflare has joined the fight, releasing AI Labyrinth to misdirect rogue bots with irrelevant data. While technical solutions offer temporary relief, this backlash is a signal: the AI industry must prioritize consent, governance, and transparency in how it collects training data.

We Need Better Norms, Not Better Crawlers

For digital leaders and policymakers, this is a call to action. We must establish shared standards that protect the open internet while enabling innovation. When data is taken without consent, innovation loses its legitimacy.

INTELLIGENT MODELS:
Reasoning is The New Benchmark for AI Leadership

Gemini 2.5 Pro Is Built To Think Before It Speaks

Google’s latest model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, introduces an important leap forward: AI that reasons before responding. With a 1-million-token context window (soon to be 2 million), Gemini can analyze, synthesize, and problem-solve with more depth than previous generations.

Benchmark-beating Performance In Code And Context

In technical benchmarks, Gemini 2.5 has outperformed rivals in code editing and agentic application design. It reflects a broader trend: AI is shifting from reactive text generators to agents capable of logical inference and long-term planning.

Reasoning AI = enterprise advantage

This isn’t theoretical. Reasoning-enabled AI will be the backbone of autonomous agents, enterprise copilots, and digital systems that navigate uncertainty. For those building AI-integrated ecosystems, models like Gemini 2.5 represent a strategic inflection point.

Reasoning AI = enterprise advantage

This isn’t theoretical. Reasoning-enabled AI will be the backbone of autonomous agents, enterprise copilots, and digital systems that navigate uncertainty. For those building AI-integrated ecosystems, models like Gemini 2.5 represent a strategic inflection point.

AI is now expected to navigate ambiguity with structured reasoning, no longer a competitive edge, but a core requirement for impactful deployment.

BIG GAMES, BIG ENERGY
Winnipeg Ready to Host the 2025 Grey Cup Festival

When Winnipeg hosts a major event, it doesn’t just roll out the welcome mat—it rolls up its sleeves and gets to work. And in 2025, the city is pulling out all the stops.

The 112th Grey Cup lands in Winnipeg on November 16, with a full week of festivities building up to the big game. Think music, local food, cultural showcases, football legends, and family fun—all wrapped up in that unmistakable Winnipeg spirit.

Here’s what’s coming:

• The Grey Cup Festival kicks off November 10 and runs all week long

• Expect three full days of free outdoor programming in downtown Winnipeg

• Live performances, food trucks, CFL alumni meetups, and all-ages events are on the agenda

• Blue Bombers season ticket holders will get early access to Grey Cup tickets, plus special perks

• The festival is being co-hosted by Treaty One Nations and the Manitoba Métis Federation, highlighting Indigenous culture throughout the event

With this major celebration overlapping with the CEBL Championship Festival hosted by the Winnipeg Sea Bears, the city is set to be buzzing with energy, pride, and a whole lot of homegrown talent.

2025 is already shaping up to be one for the books.

Housing Help: City Unlocks Land to Build More Affordable Homes

Finding a place to live in Winnipeg is getting harder. With rental prices up and vacancy rates falling, it’s clear the city needs more housing—and fast.

In response, Winnipeg is turning five city-owned properties into opportunities for affordable housing development.

The plan includes:

• Opening up underused city land for lease or sale

• Prioritizing non-profits, Indigenous organizations, and developers building affordable homes

• Sites located in neighbourhoods like Taché, Osborne, Pembina, William, and Watt

• Part of a broader initiative under the Housing Accelerator Fund

With 71,000 new residents arriving over the past three years and rental availability shrinking, these projects aim to get more people into safe, affordable homes.

Unpaid Tickets Might Soon Hit Your Credit Score

That parking ticket you meant to pay last summer? It could soon show up on your credit report.

The City of Winnipeg is tightening the screws on over $12 million in unpaid fines, and starting this month, unpaid violations may be sent to credit bureaus.

Key changes to know:

• If a fine remains unpaid one month after CBV Collections contacts you, it could impact your credit score

• Text reminders with secure payment links will be sent—double-check suspicious ones by calling 311

• Starting this summer, vehicles may be towed after just two unpaid tickets (down from three)

• The City can also place a lien on your car or auction it to recover the debt

You can still pay online, by phone, mail, or in person—but ignoring those fines might cost more than just cash.

AI for Small Business: Manitoba Launches New Training Support

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but for small business owners, figuring out how to actually use it can feel like a leap.

To help bridge that gap, the Manitoba government is investing $2 million in a new AI education program tailored for small and medium-sized businesses.

What’s included:

• Free webinars, workshops, and personalized mentorship

• Support delivered in partnership with the Manitoba and Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce

• A digital AI readiness tool to assess where your business stands and how to get started

Whether you're streamlining operations, improving customer service, or just curious where AI fits into your industry, this is a chance to level up—without going it alone.

Know someone running a business? Pass it on. This might be the edge they’ve been looking for.

AFRICA ON THE RISE:
Africa’s Tech Startups Stay Strong, Even as Funding Slows

Africa’s tech sector hit a major milestone to end 2024, with Nigerian fintech Moniepoint and South Africa’s TymeBank both reaching unicorn status. But those wins came in a year when overall funding fell—down 25% to $2.2 billion, compared to nearly $4.6 billion in 2022.

It’s not just Africa feeling the pinch. Across emerging markets, startup funding dropped sharply. Still, African founders remain optimistic, pointing to growing demand, young populations, and mobile-first markets.

What’s driving the resilience?

• January 2025 saw a strong rebound—startups raised $289M, one of the best starts in recent years

• Fintech, logistics, and food tech remain hot sectors

• Companies like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Vendease continue to scale and attract global attention

• Investors are eyeing long-term growth, despite challenges like currency risks, infrastructure gaps, and valuation corrections

Newer markets like Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia are also emerging as innovation hubs outside the “Big Four” (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt).

There are real headwinds—economic uncertainty, fragmented regulations, and risk-averse investors—but Africa’s startup scene is proving it can weather storms and keep building. As one founder put it: “We’re not just building apps—we’re building solutions that move economies.”

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