We Talk: A Colombian vlogger's view of an intelligent city

The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance is being held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20 under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future.” CGTN has invited several foreign vloggers living in China to share their perspectives on artificial intelligence and everyday life.

Fernando Munoz Bernal, a Colombian vlogger known as Gao Fei who has lived in China for 26 years, regards Dongguan as his home. To him, a smart city is not a flashy tech showcase, but thoughtful care delivered in every detail. Smart transportation eases daily commutes, intelligent devices safeguard the elderly, unmanned monitoring boats support river ecological management, and AI government tools streamline administrative procedures. Low-key smart applications have quietly woven themselves into every facet of urban life.

Bernal reflects that 26 years ago, his "partners" were his colleagues at work; today, they are these silently operating intelligent systems. Dongguan's smart transformation is not a magic show. Instead, it embeds genuine human care into the city's concrete, steel, and water