Smart Cities 2017: Kansas City Is Well On Its Way

It might be time to stop thinking about Kansas City, Mo. as "flyover country." After a series of projects and millions of dollars spent, ""We will be the smartest city on Earth within five years," Bob Bennett, Kansas City's Chief Innovation Officer, said in an interview with The Kansas City Star . The mission began four years ago when Kansas City officials added free Wi-Fi on 50 city blocks and 125 smart LED street lights all over downtown. In July 2015, Kansas City announced a partnership with Cisco, an artificial intelligence company. Both parties invested a total of $15 million in hopes of simplifying travel in their city.