Papers by Federico Cugurullo
Cugurullo, F. (2025). AIdeology: Unpacking the Ideology of Artificial Intelligence and Its Spaces. Antipode, 2025
The argument advanced in this paper is that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not simply a technolo... more The argument advanced in this paper is that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not simply a technology, but also an ideology that is influencing the values, beliefs, and worldviews of many people. Furthermore, this paper contends that the ideology of AI, henceforth AIdeology, has a strong spatial dimension. Through a combination of Marxian philosophy and human geography, the paper develops a critical theory of AI as an ideology and makes three main contributions. First, it identifies and discusses the core components of AIdeology: the idea of AI as a force capable of achieving a condition of sustainability; the idea of posthuman societies populated by humanlike AIs; and the idea of AI making both human labour and capitalism obsolete. Second, it critically examines the spatiality of these ideas and how the production of space supports their diffusion. Third, it sheds light on the uneven socio-environmental relations that AIdeology attempts to hide.
Zhang, W., Xu, Y., Cugurullo, F., Streets, D. G., & Wang, C. (2025). Spatiotemporal interaction between new-type urbanization and low-carbon technology development on curbing urban SO2 pollution in China. Urban Climate, 61, 2025
The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of new-type urbanization in Chinese cities, with its emphasis on... more The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of new-type urbanization in Chinese cities, with its emphasis on ecological development, interacts with the low-carbon technology development (LCT), a critical initiative for achieving carbon peak and neutrality targets. This interplay may lead to varied outcomes in air pollution control. This study investigates the spatiotemporal interplay between the four innovation priorities of new-type urbanization and LCT in influencing urban sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and emission intensity. By constructing the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model, we estimate the spatiotemporally varying coefficients across 294 cities and 18 urban agglomerations in China from 2012 to 2022. Our findings reveal that: (1) LCT has a strengthening effect on the inhibitory effect of new-type urbanization on urban industrial SO2 emission intensity across all Chinese cities and in 73 % of the cities for SO2 emissions. (2) LCT alleviates the energy rebound effect caused by population and land use changes accompanying new-type urbanization. (3) In 41 % of the cities, the relationship between economic new-type urbanization and SO2 emissions was identified to be an inverted U-shaped correlation. (4) Urban agglomerations have better SO2 control impacts during their new-type urbanization process, where the strengthening effect of LCT on inhibiting SO2 emissions is 1.6 times higher. This study provides empirical evidence to inform nuanced new-type urbanization strategies and targeted SO₂ pollution control measures at city and urban agglomeration scales.
Cugurullo, F., Caprotti, F., Day, J., Geoghegan, S., Lynch, C. R., Menga, F., Robinson, C. & Williams, J. (2025). The nature of AI: Metabolism, energy, water, labour and justice in the urban political ecology of artificial intelligence. Urban Political Ecology, 30497515251344495., 2025
The integration of vast volumes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into the built environ... more The integration of vast volumes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into the built environment is changing the metabolism of urban spaces. Due to the presence of various AIs in urban systems, there are now more agentic forces influencing the trajectory of urban development and entangling with pre-existing biological intelligences. Because of AI's substantial environmental costs, more resources are now needed to satisfy cities' technological appetite. Urban futures are also becoming more uncertain as private AI companies gain considerable power in urban governance through oligarchic schemes that leave citizens with no voice. In this paper, we bridge Urban Political Ecology (UPE) and urban AI literature, in order to critically examine the nature of AI as it intertwines with urban living and urban infrastructure. More specifically, we offer a threefold contribution to knowledge. First, we examine how the advent of urban AI is altering urban metabolism, zooming in on specific socio-environmental issues pertaining to energy, water and labour. Second, we discuss how the urban metabolisms altered by AI are reproducing uneven dynamics of development that are ultimately leading to different forms of injustice. Third and finally, we propose a potential course of action to politicize urban AI and intervene on its evolution.
Guo Z. & Cugurullo F. Smart Urbanism Through Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐Megaprojects: The Case of China's Healthcare Services. Public Administration and Development, 2025
Urban Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly being piloted in cities worldwid... more Urban Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly being piloted in cities worldwide, constituting a critical element in the evolution of contemporary and future smart cities. Although there is a growing body of research on the integration of AI into healthcare and smart city systems, the specific intersection of urban AI and healthcare in the context of state-led megaprojects remains insufficiently examined, particularly through empirical case studies grounded in local socio-political dynamics. This paper investigates how urban AI impacts healthcare services in a mega-hospital, addressing this significant gap in the literature. The study's contribution is threefold. First, it synthesizes the developmental trajectory of smart healthcare in China, highlighting the integration of AI technologies into the healthcare sector. Second, through an in-depth case study of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, it examines three distinct facets of smart applications within the hospital-focusing on patients, medical staff, and hospital administration-to elucidate the characteristics and dynamics of AI megaprojects in healthcare. Third, it delves into the main challenges and advantages of these AI-driven megaprojects in healthcare management and administration, and proposes policy recommendations based on the case study and identified issues and benefits. The findings reveal that while the integration of AI enhances operational efficiency and patient care outcomes, it also introduces challenges related to data privacy, ethical considerations, and infrastructural demands. The study underscores the necessity for integrated strategies that balance technological advancement with public welfare and urban sustainability. By illuminating the complex interplay between technological innovation, healthcare administration, and urban governance, this paper offers valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and healthcare administrators aiming to foster sustainable smart city development. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Geoghegan, S., & Cugurullo, F. (2025). Beyond dystopian smart cities? Unlocking a progressive utopian future in smart urbanism. Urban Geography, 2025
With rising concerns about the future of urban living, the smart city is often proposed as a solu... more With rising concerns about the future of urban living, the smart city is often proposed as a solution to various urban challenges. However, this model has sparked conflicting views with some seeing smart technology as the path to a utopian future, while others fear it will create dystopian realities. This paper moves beyond these polarized perspectives by using the Blochian philosophy of utopianism to explore a more progressive approach to urban development. By examining the single case study of Kilkenny City, the paper highlights the gap between the ideal smart city vision and the realities that arise when technological strategies are implemented, such as unjust practices of surveillance capitalism. It then discusses the potential improvements that technology can bring to urban environments. Following this critical examination of the discrepant and aspirational aspects of utopianism, the study contributes to urban research by presenting critical engagement not as the end of the conversation but as the beginning of a journey toward a better future. While it is crucial to acknowledge the dissatisfaction with current urban living, especially among marginalized communities, it is equally important to keep utopian thought in urban discussions. This approach fosters the possibility of meaningful improvements through technology.
Cugurullo, F. (2024). New stories of urban AI: exploring the artificial intelligence–city nexus beyond Frankenstein Urbanism. Urban Geography, 2024
The story of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a global story heard across differe... more The story of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a global story heard across different spaces and scales. There is now a growing awareness that AI is one of the forces that are shaping the future of humanity and the way our species interacts with our planet and what lies beyond it. AI appears to be everywhere and, most importantly, as I argued in Frankenstein Urbanism: Eco, Smart and Autonomous Cities, Artificial Intelligence and the End of the City, it is in the very spaces that we inhabit and experience as part of our daily life in urban environments. Since the publication of Frankenstein Urbanism in 2021, AI has evolved and so has its study in urban geography. In this paper, I aim to respond to the contributions that form this book forum, and use my response as a steppingstone for discussing the evolution of urban AI research and proposing new lines of empirical and theoretical inquiry. These include the importance of surpassing Modernist ideals in the design and understanding of urban AI; the need to comprehend how active citizenship can shape AI urbanism; the spatial question of conflict as AI continues to occupy urban spaces populated by other intelligences; and the critical theorization of the autonomy of different urban AIs.
Gaio, A., & Cugurullo, F. (2024). Reshaping Cyclist Mobility: Understanding the Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Bicycle Users. Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research., 2024
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) present a jarring new normal for negotiation on public streets. Current... more Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) present a jarring new normal for negotiation on public streets. Current communication and interaction stand to be disrupted with the presence of AVs. Active transport users, specifically bicycle users, rely on human communication and subtle cues to feel confident when negotiating with other road users. Shifts in communicability with AVs presents a unique challenge for bicycle users. It remains unclear how AVs will impact urban bicycle users. This paper employs a mixed-methods approach to understanding impacts that AVs have on urban bicycle users in four test sites with varying levels of traffic stress. Interviews and focus groups were used across different traffic stress scenarios in three countries to understand how bicycle users will be impacted by AVs in real-world scenarios. The results represent a pioneering cross-section of four bicycle cultures' exposure to AVs. Results universally show that, compared to conventionally operated vehicles, an enduring sense of unease remains unresolved with AVs and that shifting focus to bicycle user experiences and prioritizing the needs of a diverse population of non-occupants will be critical. If AVs are not deployed responsibly and responsively, they could turn bicycle users away from cycling in a streetscape where active transport users are already marginalized.
Federico Cugurullo, Ying Xu, When AIs become oracles: generative artificial intelligence, anticipatory urban governance, and the future of cities, Policy and Society, 2024
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is boosting anticipatory forms of governance, through whi... more Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is boosting anticipatory forms of governance, through which state actors seek to predict the future and strategically intervene in the present. In this context, city brains represent an emerging type of generative AI currently employed in urban governance and public policy in a growing number of cities. City brains are large-scale AIs residing in vast digital urban platforms, which manage multiple urban domains including transport, safety, health, and environmental monitoring. They use Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate visions of urban futures: visions that are in turn used by policymakers to generate new urban policies. In this paper, we advance a twofold contribution. Theoretically, we develop a critical theory of anticipatory governance in the age of generative AI. More specifically, we focus on technocratic approaches to anticipatory governance, to explain how the act of governing extends into the future by means of predictive AI technology. Our approach is critical in order to expose the dangers that the use of AI (generative AI, in particular) in urban governance poses, and to identify their causes. These dangers include the formation of a policy process that, under the influence of unintelligible LLMs, risks losing transparency and thus accountability, and the marginalization of human stakeholders (citizens, in particular) as the role of AI in the management of cities keeps growing and governance begins to turn posthuman. Empirically, we critically examine an existing city brain project under development in China and ground our critical theory in a real-life example.
Cugurullo, F. The obscure politics of artificial intelligence: a Marxian socio-technical critique of the AI alignment problem thesis. AI and Ethics, 2024
There is a growing feeling that artificial intelligence (AI) is getting out of control. Many AI e... more There is a growing feeling that artificial intelligence (AI) is getting out of control. Many AI experts worldwide stress that great care must be taken on the so-called alignment problem, broadly understood as the challenge of developing AIs whose actions are in line with human values and goals. The story goes that ever more powerful AI systems are escaping human control and might soon operate in a manner that is no longer guided by human purposes. This is what we call the AI-out-of-control discourse which, in this paper, we critically examine and debunk. Drawing on complementary insights from political theory, socio-technical studies and Marxian political economy, we critique the supposed animistic and autonomous nature of AI, and the myth of the uncontrollability of AI. The problem is not that humanity has lost control over AI, but that only a minority of powerful stakeholders are controlling its creation and diffusion, through politically undemocratic processes of decision-making. In these terms, we reframe the alignment problem thesis with an emphasis on citizen engagement and public political participation. We shed light on the existing politics of AI and contemplate alternative political expressions whereby citizens steer AI development or stop it in the first place.
Ethics Inf Technol 26, 11 (2024), 2024
The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between AI urbanism and sustainability b... more The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between AI urbanism and sustainability by drawing upon some key concepts of Bruno Latour’s philosophy. The idea of a sustainable AI urbanism - often understood as the juxtaposition of smart and eco urbanism - is here critiqued through a reconstruction of the conceptual sources of these two urban paradigms. Some key ideas of smart and eco urbanism are indicated as incompatible and therefore the fusion of these two paradigms is assessed as an unstable basis for shaping sustainable AI urbanism. The concepts in question - modernity, science and nature – are subsequently redefined following Latour’s philosophical perspective, in an attempt to define a different theoretical basis for a sustainable AI urbanism in the Anthropocene. Finally, the principles of a design philosophy shaped by Latour are used to change the design culture that informs AI urbanism towards a more sustainable practice. This paper constructs and promotes a dialogue between the disciplines of philosophy and urban theory with urban design in the conviction that the principles produced by the former and the practices carried out by the latter must start a biunivocal relationship. The paper reveals that in order to change design culture in the field of AI urbanism, it is necessary to rethink some of the key ideas that inform the Western and modern worldview through novel philosophical reflections.
Journal of Urban Technology, 2024
While smart city initiatives have characterized global urbanization from the 1990s to the 2020s, ... more While smart city initiatives have characterized global urbanization from the 1990s to the 2020s, nowadays a novel artificial intelligence (AI) enabled approach to urban governance is rapidly emerging, thereby shaping the governance and planning of present and future cities. This urban phenomenon can be understood theoretically through the notion of anticipatory governance, and empirically through so-called City Brain systems. This is particularly evident in China where a wide range of urban AI solutions are being experimented at different scales which this paper seeks to illustrate. First, by building a database of AI-urban policy texts associated with Chinese cities, we capture and discuss the national network of discourses surrounding urban AI. Second, we draw on empirical research conducted in Beijing to examine an existing city brain project and explain its impact on urban governance. Our study reveals the multi-scalar policy landscape of urban AI transitions in China and sheds light on the extent to which emerging AI technologies such as city brains can proactively address urban problems, thus developing an understanding of anticipatory governance in the age of urban AI. We conclude the paper by reflecting on the complex corporatestate relations embedded in the co-production of city brains, their diffusion and impact beyond China.
Cugurullo, F., Caprotti, F., Cook, M., Karvonen, A., MᶜGuirk, P., & Marvin, S. The rise of AI urbanism in post-smart cities: A critical commentary on urban artificial intelligence, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as an impactful feature of the life, planning and govern... more Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as an impactful feature of the life, planning and governance of 21st-century cities. Once confined to the realm of science fiction and small-scale technological experiments, AI is now all around us, in the shape of urban artificial intelligences including autonomous cars, robots, city brains and urban software agents. The aim of this article is to critically examine the nature of urbanism in the emergent age of AI. More specifically, we shed light on how urban AI is impacting the development of cities, and argue that an urbanism influenced by AI, which we term AI urbanism, differs in theory and practice from smart urbanism. In the future, the rise of a post-smart urbanism driven by AI has the potential to form autonomous cities that transcend, theoretically and empirically, traditional smart cities. The article compares common practices and understandings of smart urbanism with emerging forms of urban living, urban governance and urban planning influenced by AI. It critically discusses the limitations and potential pitfalls of AI urbanism and offers conceptual tools and a vocabulary to understand the urbanity of AI and its impact on present and future cities.
Discover Artificial Intelligence. 3, 15. Perspective, 2023
The aim of this paper is to tease out some of the key issues concerning the relationship between ... more The aim of this paper is to tease out some of the key issues concerning the relationship between AI and urbanism. This relationship, which is presented in the academic literature as a new driving force of contemporary urbanism, will be investigated through an interdisciplinary approach that places urban studies and philosophy of technology in dialogue. Thus, the analysis will not focus on the technological development of artificial intelligence systems but on how their application can affect urbanistic thinking and vice versa. The chart that is produced by this method is based on two fundamental axes: time and space. AI urbanism will then be inquired first through key turning points in the history of the relationship between technology and the city (modern urbanism, cybernetics and the smart city paradigm). Secondly, the spatial implications of urban AI will be investigated from the point of view of the concrete applications of this technology to the city (Robots, AVs, Software agents) and their impact on the relationships between different urban actors. Ultimately, this work aims to offer a conceptual tool for understanding some decisive implications of the relationship between AI and urbanism, such as the connection between quantitative and qualitative approaches, the implications related to autonomous technology, the economic-political background of AI urbanism, the material urban impact of AI, and the relationship between AI and other urban intelligences. Understanding these implications will be valuable for future research on AI urbanism oriented toward transforming simple technological development into sustainable urban innovations.
Cugurullo, F., Acheampong, R.A. Fear of AI: an inquiry into the adoption of autonomous cars in spite of fear, and a theoretical framework for the study of artificial intelligence technology acceptance. AI & Society , 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of the everyday. During this transition, people's i... more Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of the everyday. During this transition, people's intention to use AI technologies is still unclear and emotions such as fear are influencing it. In this paper, we focus on autonomous cars to first verify empirically the extent to which people fear AI and then examine the impact that fear has on their intention to use AI-driven vehicles. Our research is based on a systematic survey and it reveals that while individuals are largely afraid of cars that are driven by AI, they are nonetheless willing to adopt this technology as soon as possible. To explain this tension, we extend our analysis beyond just fear and show that people also believe that AI-driven cars will generate many individual, urban and global benefits. Subsequently, we employ our empirical findings as the foundations of a theoretical framework meant to illustrate the main factors that people ponder when they consider the use of AI tech. In addition to offering a comprehensive theoretical framework for the study of AI technology acceptance, this paper provides a nuanced understanding of the tension that exists between the fear and adoption of AI, capturing what exactly people fear and intend to do.
McCarroll C and Cugurullo F (2022) No city on the horizon: Autonomous cars, artificial intelligence, and the absence of urbanism. Front. Sustain. Cities 4:937933. , 2022
In this perspective piece we use a case study of Phoenix (Arizona) to explore the ways in which t... more In this perspective piece we use a case study of Phoenix (Arizona) to explore the ways in which the implementation of autonomous vehicle technology is tied to the political economy of the city. We highlight the potential urban benefits that can stem from the use of autonomous vehicles, while also bringing to the fore the necessity of governance in realizing these same benefits. By using Phoenix as a case study, we illustrate the dissonance that exists between policymakers within government and the future urban imaginaries that are used as reasons to justify Phoenix as a test ground. By viewing the position of stakeholders within industry and within government we address the individual and political gains that adoption of such technology can bring on an interstate competitive level. These dynamics of market competition, combined with a lack of proactive engagement in urban planning show that the potential urban benefits that can be brought on by the autonomous vehicle are left solely to the imagination.
Gaio, A., Cugurullo, F. Cyclists and autonomous vehicles at odds. AI & Society, 2022
Consequential historical decisions that shaped transportation systems and their influence on soci... more Consequential historical decisions that shaped transportation systems and their influence on society have many valuable lessons. The decisions we learn from and choose to make going forward will play a key role in shaping the mobility landscape of the future. This is especially pertinent as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in the form of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Throughout urban history, there have been cyclical transport oppressions of previous-generation transportation methods to make way for novel transport methods. These cyclical oppressions can be identified in the baroque and modernist periods, and a third oppression may occur in the contemporary period. To explore the idea of a third oppression, we focus on the bicycle and outline the history of cycling to understand how historical mode oppression unfolded. We then present several social and political factors that contributed to the oppression of cycling and share recommendations for how to avoid future oppressions including political, social, and design actions for researchers and policymakers to take. This paper argues that priorities for AI-enabled mobility and cyclist needs be advanced in proportion to the extent that they contribute to societal goals of urban containment, public realm, and proximal cities. Additionally, future mobility evolutions should prioritise mobility justice and mode choice over inducing a singular transportation method.
McCarroll, C., & Cugurullo, F. (2022). Social implications of autonomous vehicles: a focus on time. AI & Society, 37(2), 791-800., 2022
The urban environment is increasingly engaging with artificial intelligence, a focus on the autom... more The urban environment is increasingly engaging with artificial intelligence, a focus on the automation of urban processes, whether it be singular artefacts or city-wide systems. The impact of such technological innovation on the social dynamics of the urban environment is an ever changing and multi-faceted field of research. In this paper, the space and time defined by the autonomous vehicle is used as a window to view the way in which a shift in urban transport dynamics can impact the temporal experience of an individual. Using the finite window of time created by an autonomous vehicle, a theoretical framework is put forward that seeks to show how contrasting narratives exist regarding the experience of the window of time within the autonomous vehicle. By taking a theoretical approach informed by social theory, the dissolution of barriers between separate spheres of life is explored to highlight the increased commodification of time. In focusing on both the space and time created by the autonomous vehicle this approach seeks to highlight how artificial intelligence can provide a contemporary space in the urban environment while also opening a new window of time. The cognitive dissonance observed when comparing the narratives of autonomous vehicle stakeholders and the historical shift in time use leads to a belief that technology makes the user more free in terms of time. With this paper the autonomous vehicle is shown to be an ideal space and time to view the way in which the use of such technology does not increase free-time, but further dissolves the boundaries between what is and what is not work-time.
Cities, 2021
Creating sustainable urban futures partly requires reducing car-use and transport induced stresse... more Creating sustainable urban futures partly requires reducing car-use and transport induced stresses on the environment and society. New transport technologies such as autonomous vehicles are increasingly assuming prominence in debates about the transition toward sustainable urban futures. Yet, enormous uncertainties currently exist on how autonomous vehicles might shape urban mobility. To address this gap, this paper examines the latent behavioural and socio-demographic factors that will drive the adoption of and preferences for different use options of autonomous vehicles, utilizing survey data from Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Based on this, it explores how autonomous vehicles might shape travel behaviors through mode choice and the potential sustainability implications. The findings show that regarding preferences for a specific alternative (i.e. sharing, ownership and public transport), attitudes toward these use options matter the most, rather than overall perceived benefits of autonomous vehicles. Moreover, for single mode options, shared-autonomous vehicles remain the least popular, while preference for ownership of autonomous vehicles, either as a single option or in combination with sharing and public transport, is high. Across the different autonomous vehicles options, there is high preference for clean engine fuel sources (i.e. electric and hybrid). Given the embeddedness of preferences for autonomous vehicles in attitudes and choices regarding existing forms of motorized transport, it is possible that the current modal split and the large share of private car-based transport, might not change in the era of autonomous mobility. However, urban transport policy can leverage the overall positive attitudes toward the environment, sharing and public transit to nudge choices toward achieving the normative goals of sustainable urban transport.
Kaker, S. A., Evans, J., Cugurullo, F., Cook, M., & Petrova, S. (2020). Expanding cities: Living, planning and governing uncertainty. In Scoones, I. and Stirling, A. (Editors) The Politics of Uncertainty: Challenges of Transformation. Routledge, London , 2020
This chapter presents readers with an opportunity to engage with the concept of uncertainty throu... more This chapter presents readers with an opportunity to engage with the concept of uncertainty through the lens of cities and urbanism. Operating within an environment of profound uncertainty relating to the future of humanity, contemporary cities present divergent narratives of hope and despair. They are chronically underfunded and over-burdened, home to deeply divided communities and decrepit infrastructure, and struggling with chaotic unplanned growth and chronic pollution. Yet they have the capacity to assemble social, material and technical actors and relations in novel, experimental and collaborative ways so as to respond to these emergent challenges. These insights lead us to the question, what can we learn from cities about living with, planning and governing uncertainty? The contributing authors answer this question by presenting five perspectives on urban uncertainties. Ranging from looking at the street level and ordinary uncertainty to looking at the governing of uncertain technological futures, to discussing the ethical outcomes of governmental solutions to climate change, the authors excavate the varying ways in which uncertainty stimulates experimental forms of urban development and governance, and with what social and political implications. They conclude with optimism: if a progressive, equitable and ethical socio-political milieu is fostered in cities, it is possible to effectively tackle urban challenges in uncertain cities.
Yigitcanlar, T., & Cugurullo, F. (2020). The sustainability of artificial intelligence: An urbanistic viewpoint from the lens of smart and sustainable cities. Sustainability, 12(20), 8548., 2020
The popularity and application of artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing rapidly all around ... more The popularity and application of artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing rapidly all around the world - where, in simple terms, AI is a technology which mimics the behaviors commonly associated with human intelligence. Today, various AI applications are being used in areas ranging from marketing to banking and finance, from agriculture to healthcare and security, from space exploration to robotics and transport, and from chatbots to artificial creativity and manufacturing. More recently, AI applications have also started to become an integral part of many urban services. Urban artificial intelligences manage the transport systems of cities, run restaurants and shops where every day urbanity is expressed, repair urban infrastructure, and govern multiple urban domains such as traffic, air quality monitoring, garbage collection, and energy. In the age of uncertainty and complexity that is upon us, the increasing adoption of AI is expected to continue, and so its impact on the sustainability of our cities. This viewpoint explores and questions the sustainability of AI from the lens of smart and sustainable cities, and generates insights into emerging urban artificial intelligences and the potential symbiosis between AI and a smart and sustainable urbanism. In terms of methodology, this viewpoint deploys a thorough review of the current status of AI and smart and sustainable cities literature, research, developments, trends, and applications. In so doing, it contributes to existing academic debates in the fields of smart and sustainable cities and AI. In addition, by shedding light on the uptake of AI in cities, the viewpoint seeks to help urban policymakers, planners, and citizens make informed decisions about a sustainable adoption of AI.
Uploads
Papers by Federico Cugurullo