New tech is transforming commerce, media and access to information. However, while there are apps to tell people about traffic conditions, or the prices of available apartments, the biggest challenges that cities face, such as making transportation more efficient and lowering the cost of living have, so far, been more difficult to address.
Sidewalk Labs will develop new products, platforms and partnerships to make progress in these areas. Announcing the new company, Dan Doctoroff said: “We are at the beginning of a historic transformation in cities. At a time when the concerns about urban equity, costs, health and the environment are intensifying, unprecedented technological change is going to enable cities to be more efficient, responsive, flexible and resilient.
We hope that Sidewalk will play a major role in developing technology products, platforms and advanced infrastructure that can be implemented at scale in cities around the world.”