This　paper　explores　the　concept　of　smart　cities　and　the　role　of　the　Internet　of　Things　(IoT)　and　machine　learning　(ML)　in　realizing　a　data-centric　smart　environment.　Smart　cities　leverage　technology　and　data　to　improve　the　quality　of　life　for　citizens　and　enhance　the　efficiency　of　urban　services.　IoT　and　machine　learning　have　emerged　as　key　technologies　for　enabling　smart　city　solutions　that　rely　on　large-scale　data　collection,　analysis,　and　decision-making.　This　paper　presents　an　overview　of　smart　cities＇　various　applications　and　discusses　the　challenges　associated　with　implementing　IoT　and　machine　learning　in　urban　environments.　The　paper　also　compares　different　case　studies　of　successful　smart　city　implementations　utilizing　IoT　and　machine　learning　technologies.　The　findings　suggest　that　these　technologies　have　the　potential　to　transform　urban　environments　and　enable　the　creation　of　more　livable,　sustainable,　and　efficient　cities.　However,　significant　challenges　remain　regarding　data　privacy,　security,　and　ethical　considerations,　which　must　be　addressed　to　realize　the　full　potential　of　smart　cities.