Smart grid

Smart cities leverage advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and automation systems to enhance the quality of life, improve resource efficiency, and reduce operational costs. Effective management of critical infrastructures, including power and energy networks, intelligent transportation, urban services, and data security, remains a significant challenge in the development of these cities. Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its extensive capabilities in big data analysis, energy consumption forecasting, power distribution optimization, and intelligent transportation management, plays a pivotal role in facilitating decision-making processes and enhancing the efficiency of urban systems. Meanwhile, blockchain technology provides a decentralized infrastructure, ensuring transaction transparency and enabling the execution of smart contracts, thereby guaranteeing security and trust in energy data and urban service management. This paper presents a comprehensive review of AI and blockchain applications in power systems and smart cities, analyzing their benefits and limitations, and identifying future research directions. The findings indicate that integrating these emerging technologies can substantially improve network efficiency, reduce operational costs, enhance security, and support sustainable energy management, ultimately contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals in smart cities. Additionally, challenges related to scalability, interoperability between technologies, and legal and regulatory issues are discussed to provide a clear outlook for future research endeavors.