Opposition leaders have poured scorn on a five-year council plan which could result in driverless buses, internet enabled park benches and roads with built-in pothole warnings.
The Smarter Aberdeen strategy, revealed to senior administration members by head of IT Simon Haston this week, could lead technological transformation in the city.
Plans are already in place to install super-fast broadband in the city centre by the end of the year.
But last night SNP infrastructure spokesman Michael Hutchison said the council must be careful about “over promising”.
He said: “There is a fairly wide range of technology being looked at here.
“Driverless buses have only just started trials in some countries, while lights with sensors to switch them on have been getting sold in B&Q for the last 20 years.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill urged the ruling Labour-Conservative-Independent administration look at its priorities.
He said: “I’m no Luddite, I understand the need for development and would welcome these projects being introduced.
“But sadly Aberdonians have heard promises from this administration before – most of which never get beyond the pages of the local press.
“These sensors may be able to detect potholes but they won’t fix them, I would suggest the council prioritises the existing problems.”
But councillor Barney Crockett, the lead on the council’s hydrogen vehicles projects, said residents would be “amazed” at how quickly the technology would come.
He said: “I think the big surprise for people will be how quickly these changes will come.
“Driverless vehicles will not just reduce congestion, because people will need less of them, but also fit in with our green agenda of reducing emissions.
“We already have Europe’s fastest growing car club and it’s important we keep looking to the future.”