Friday Eye Candy: AI Envisions Solutions to the Challenges Facing Cities

Phoenix reimagined for shade. Los Angeles as a place where everybody walks. San Francisco with affordable housing. AI makes a vision of the future possible.

1 minute read

July 7, 2023, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A futuristic reimagining of a D.C. street with green pathways and open waterways instead of car-filled streets.

Washington, D.C. “reimagined as a city with green rooftops, solar-paneled monuments, and a network of tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly boulevards.” | Midjourney

“[W]hat if we could reimagine the world’s cities unfettered by budgetary constraints, political roadblocks, or logistical challenges?”

That’s the question explored by a recent application of AI technology by Planetizen Founder Chris Steins on Medium. For example, the post imagines Los Angeles as a pedestrian’s paradise, Miami as a “resilient city designed to withstand rising sea levels,” and Cairo “as a high-tech city harmoniously blending with ancient ruins.”

According to Steins, the power of AI, in this case Midjourney, is more than speculation. “The power of AI lies in its ability to transcend human bias and conventional thinking, providing fresh perspectives on urban possibilities,” writes Steins. “In using AI, we can explore and visualize transformative urban solutions with unparalleled creativity and scale.”

The source article, linked below, includes many images with examples from the United States and abroad.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in Chris Steins via Medium

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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