Devastated by industrial crisis, America's former "steel city" has reinvented itself as an innovation hub. But today its main challenge is to keep its "One Pittsburgh" promise by ensuring that everybody in its diverse population shares the benefits of new growth. Pittsburgh is back from the brink. A flagship of triumphant industrialisation in the early 20th century, the city has since seen its steel mills decline and then shut down. As the economy lurched from one crisis to another, Pennsylvania's rusting "steel city" became an emblem of decline, like other urban "dead stars" in the rustbelt of America's Middle West. But Pittsburgh never gave up.

In the next few weeks, some Pittsburghers will get a bunch of surprises when they call an Uber. First, the car will be a Volvo XC90--a luxury SUV a good deal fancier than the seemingly standard-issue Prius. Second, the ride will be free. And third, it'll be driven by a robot. Yes, Uber is launching a pilot fleet of autonomous Volvos in Steel City.