If countries overlook the soft components of the ICT roll-out such as skills, education, local content, inclusive policies, participation and institutional accountability, the impacts of the digital revolution will fall short. In the spirit of inclusive knowledge cities, broadband infrastructure and soft-components need to be conceived and rolled out jointly, to ensure a future human-centred, sustainable city development. Although automation may lead to loss of jobs, smart and knowledge cities will lead to the creation of jobs in IT, data analysis, research and in the socio-cultural and environmental sectors.