Cities around the world are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to increase productivity, optimize services, and strengthen their economies, according to a global study conducted by ServiceNow and Deloitte, in partnership with ThoughtLab, a leading research company on technological trends. The research revealed that 56% of cities already use AI to improve government management and public services, while 83% plan to adopt this technology in the next three years. The study also shows the acceleration in the use of generative AI (GenAI), with 87% of cities already planning, testing, or implementing this technology to generate content and analyses. Currently, 18% of cities use generative AI, but this number will triple to 59% in the next three years.

The study, entitled“AI-Powered Cities of the Future”analyzed the plans, investments, and practices of a diverse set of cities in 78 countries, taking into account different income levels and population sizes, ranging from 50,000 to over 37.1 million inhabitants. The results indicate that artificial intelligence is already being applied in various urban areas

• 65%of cities are testing or using AI to optimize government operations;
• 64%to improve public transport;
• 62%to monitor and respond to urban risks;
• 60%to manage urban infrastructure more efficiently;
• 60%to promote sustainability;
• 57%to improve the quality of life of the population.

Cities that have already implemented artificial intelligence report several benefits, such as economic growth, risk reduction, cost efficiency and greater public engagement, as well as improvements in public health and safety.

The Path to AI Leadership

To identify the leading cities in AI usage, ThoughtLab created a maturity model that assesses levels of technology adoption, digital foundations, and control mechanisms. The leading cities are better prepared to face urban challenges, are more resilient, and are well-positioned for the future. These cities achieved leadership by following eight essential steps

1. Strategic commitment: develop a clear vision of how AI can transform their economy and infrastructure, ensuring adequate budgeting.
2. Solid data and IT foundation: integrate data from different urban sources on secure cloud platforms, with automated and scalable processes.
3. Talent training and management: invest in training qualified professionals to lead AI initiatives, with 59% of leading cities having a head of AI.
4. Fostering innovation: collaborate with private companies, public sectors and non-profit organizations to share expertise and access to data and talent.
5. AI Scale and GenAI: rapidly expand the use of these technologies in all areas of urban management.
6. Integration with other technologies: combine AI with cloud computing, biometrics, cybersecurity, IoT and data analytics to maximize results.
7. Data security: use advanced systems to mitigate cyber risks, such as automated monitoring and data loss prevention tools.
8. Responsible use of AI: establish guidelines for AI governance, protection of personal data and identification of algorithmic biases.

Brazilian cities lead AI adoption in Latin America

Brazil is emerging as a leader in artificial intelligence adoption across Latin America, with São Paulo, Curitiba, and Niterói ranked as AI leaders, while Belo Horizonte, Aracaju, Porto Alegre, Recife, and Vila Velha are advancing in AI initiatives. These cities are integrating AI into government operations, mobility, public safety, health, and sustainability to improve urban life and efficiency.

• São Paulois one of the top 10 cities leading the adoption of AI through fraud detection, using artificial intelligence to identify fake claims and misuse of public funds in government services.
• Curitibais driving environmental sustainability through climate modeling and forecasting, leveraging AI to support urban resilience.
• Niteroiis improving public health services by using AI to analyze disease trends and improve the allocation of medical resources.
• Belo Horizonteis leveraging AI for mobility and transportation, especially in traffic management and public transportation optimization.
• Aracajuapplies AI to safety and security through video monitoring, crime prediction, emergency response, and to identify and mitigate cyberattacks on critical city infrastructure.

Brazilian cities are advancing in urban infrastructure, waste management driven by AI, and cybersecurity, positioning the country as an important player in AI-driven urban transformation. As these initiatives expand, Brazil is establishing a benchmark for the adoption of artificial intelligence across Latin America.

The study identified the main leading cities in each region:

• Latin America: Curitiba, Mexico City, Niterói, Sao Paulo.
• North America: Boston, Chicago, Nova York, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto.
• Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Madrid, Marseille, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna.
• Asia-Pacific: Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Lucknow, Melbourne, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo.
• Middle East and Africa: Dammam, Harare, Istanbul, Kuwait City.

Carnival is one of the most anticipated times of the year, but also a period of high risk for fraud and thefts. A recent survey by the fintech Koin revealed that 90% of respondents have had their cell phone stolen during Carnival.

The survey identified that 18.4% of respondents have already been victims of scams or frauds during Carnival. The most common scams include altered Pix or QR code accounting for 46.4%, fake profiles selling carnival products or services at 35.7%, card cloning or unauthorized charges in transportation at 21.4%, cell phone theft followed by access to bank accounts or WhatsApp cloning at 17.9%, fake tickets at 14.3%, and scams in accommodations, such as fake listings or unauthorized charges at 10.7%.

Financial losses also draw attention: 28.6% of victims lost between R$ 100 and R$ 500, 21.4% suffered a loss of over R$ 1,000, and only 17.9% managed to avoid financial losses.

“Amid the growing number of cyber scams, it is essential to raise awareness about digital security. Investing in consistent and ongoing educational campaigns is an essential strategy to reduce these risks and protect users,” highlights Gabriela Jubram, Head of Marketing at Koin.

Despite the scams and potential threats associated with cell phone use during Carnival, driven by the high flow of people, 72% of revelers say they adopt measures to protect against fraud, 12.5% do so occasionally and only 15.1% remain vulnerable, becoming easy targets for criminals.

Koin's research indicates that 15.1% of respondents say they sometimes take precautions during Carnival; while 12.5% do not usually worry about fraud.

Festival-goers who protect themselves against fraud during Carnival adopt different strategies: 66.4% of respondents avoid providing personal or banking data to strangers; 51.3% do not withdraw money from ATMs near events; 46% activate two-factor authentication on their mobile phones and banking apps; and 36.8% check QR codes before making payments and verify the authenticity of accommodation ads.

Furthermore, 68.4% avoid taking their cell phones out of their pockets in busy places; 53.9% activate device tracking; 44.7% use strong passwords and biometrics to unlock; and 32.9% deactivate Pix or reduce transaction limits on carnival days.

Still, there is a risk of thefts and robberies. In the survey, participants were asked about what actions they take in case of cell phone theft or robbery. Of the total respondents, 34.9% stated that they file a police report, another 34.9% remotely lock the device; while 22.4% prefer to prioritize the bank's notification to block transactions and avoid financial losses.

The survey also assessed the partygoers' perception of security regarding digital payments during the festival period. The survey shows that 38.2% avoid making digital payments as much as possible, 34.9% feel very secure when paying digitally; 19.7% feel reasonably secure; and only 7.2% consider themselves insecure when making digital payments.

“Due to the high concentration of people at the blocks and typical events, Carnival has become a critical period for scams and fraud. Financial and digital education is essential for people to enjoy the party without losses. The use of good security practices, such as strong passwords, facial biometrics and access control to applications, can reduce fraud and ensure greater peace of mind for partygoers,” emphasizes the executive.

The survey was carried out in the first half of February and interviewed 250 people in all regions of Brazil, with multiple-choice questions.

Unit 42, Palo Alto Networks' cybersecurity threat research unit, today released itsGlobal Incident Response Report 2025, revealing that 86% of major cyber incidents in 2024 resulted in operational shutdowns, reputational damage, or financial losses.

The report, based on responses to 500 major incidents in 38 countries and across all sectors of the economy, highlights a new trend: financially motivated criminal groups have shifted their focus to causing deliberate damage, destroying systems, locking out customers and causing prolonged outages to maximize impact and pressure victims into paying ransoms.

The speed, sophistication and scale of attacks have reached unprecedented levels, driven by AI-based threats and multi-faceted intrusions, making the 2024 cybersecurity landscape even more volatile.

Cyber threats are getting faster and more destructive

As attackers rewrite the rules of the game, defense teams struggle to keep up. The report highlights several trends

• Attacks faster than everIn 25% of incidents, intruders exfiltrated data in less than five hours, three times faster than in 2021. The scenario is even more alarming in 20% of cases, where data theft occurred in less than an hour.
• Internal threats on the riseThe number of internal incidents related to North Korea tripled in 2024. State-sponsored groups have infiltrated companies, posing as IT professionals, securing jobs, and then installing backdoors, stealing data, and even altering source codes.
• Multi-pronged attacks have become standard: In 70% of cases, attackers exploited three or more attack surfaces simultaneously, forcing security teams to protect endpoints, networks, cloud environments, and human factors at the same time.
• Phishing is backAfter being overtaken by vulnerabilities last year, phishing has once again become the main initial access vector for cyberattacks, accounting for 23% of breaches. With the use of generative AI, phishing campaigns are more sophisticated, convincing, and scalable than ever.
• The rise of cloud attacks: Nearly 29% of incidents involved cloud environments, and 21% resulted in operational damage, with attackers exploiting misconfigurations to scan entire networks for valuable data.
• AI as a catalyst for the attack cycleCriminals are using artificial intelligence to create more convincing phishing campaigns, automate malware development, and accelerate their progression within the attack chain. In a controlled experiment, researchers from Unit 42 discovered that AI-assisted attacks can reduce data exfiltration time to just 25 minutes.

Why do cyber attacks continue to be successful?

The report highlights three key factors that are enabling attackers to succeed:

• Complexity compromises security effectiveness:In 75% of incidents, there was evidence in the logs, but operational silos prevented detection.
• Lack of visibility facilitates attacks:40% of cloud incidents were caused by unmonitored assets and shadow IT, allowing attackers to move laterally without detection.
• Excessive privilege amplifies harm: In 41% of attacks, attackers exploited excessive permissions to facilitate lateral movement and privilege escalation.

Malicious actors are reshaping their strategies, combining AI, automation, and multifaceted tactics to bypass traditional defenses. The time between the initial invasion and total impact is rapidly decreasing, making detection, response, and mitigation more critical than ever.

To stay ahead of threats in 2025, organizations need to proactively strengthen the security of networks, applications, and cloud environments, and empower their security operations with AI-powered solutions for faster, more effective detection and response.

In the current digital landscape, it is essential for companies to diversify their means of contact with consumers. With the advancement of digitalization, this strategy broadens the brand's reach and positively impacts finances.

According to data from the Business Research Company, the omnichannel market is expected to reach $7.52 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. This approach involves integrating physical and digital channels, ensuring a consistent experience for the consumer.

By adopting this strategy, companies offer the same quality of service regardless of the channel used by the customer, be it an online store, social networks or messaging applications such as WhatsApp, favoring retention and profits.

New consumer habits shape the future of the omnichannel market

With an annual growth of 14.4%, the sector jumped from $6.57 billion in 2024 to the forecast of $7.52 billion in 2025. This advancement highlights the need for integration of communication channels to make strategies more coherent and effective.

The forecast is that this growth rate will continue until 2029, when the omnichannel market is expected to reach $12.88 billion. Among the main trends for the coming years, experts point out:

• Growth of voice commerce:The possibility of making online purchases using voice command increases convenience for consumers, reducing the need for manual interaction.
• Sustainability:Omnichannel integration optimizes processes and makes operations more efficient, favoring sustainable practices.
• Contactless payments:Offering support across multiple channels also makes digital transactions faster and more accessible.
• Omnichannel personalization:The connection between channels allows the collection of strategic data, enabling the creation of personalized experiences for each consumer.

WhatsApp CRM optimizes companies' digital marketing

Presentin 99% of cell phones in BrazilWhatsApp is an essential tool for omnichannel strategies. Companies can adapt the app to optimize customer relationships.

THEWhatsApp CRM("Customer Relationship Management") allows the integration of conversations with clients into a unified dashboard, facilitating the management of interactions. Among the benefits of this system are:

• Improved customer service:centralizes information and facilitates the resolution of doubts.
• Attracting new customers:Adding a direct button to WhatsApp simplifies initial contact.
• Fast submission of proposals:With organized data, it is possible to monitor the purchasing journey and personalize offers.
• Scalability:WhatsApp supports a large volume of interactions, keeping up with business growth.

Integration with WhatsApp API enhances strategies

The integration of CRM with the WhatsApp Business API can be a differentiator for companies' digital marketing. In the market, platforms like Kommo offer this service.

This integration allows managing clients in a unified inbox. Additionally, it includes features such as chatbots and automated broadcasts.

Implementation can be done in different ways, from a free version, such as WhatsApp Lite, to more robust cloud-based solutions, which require greater investment but offer advanced management features.

WhatsApp is already a key part of omnichannel strategies, providing fast and personalized communication, reducing barriers and favoring brand sales.