How well does artificial intelligence ‘get’ U.S. cities?
In a blog post on Medium, Chris Steins provides “An AI-inspired visual tour of some of America’s most digitally rendered iconic neighborhoods.”
The images illustrate the power and limits of artificial intelligence when it comes to interpreting “the essence” of a place as described in words, including the typical subtle AI glitches and ‘uncanny valley’ feel (the Miami image essentially looks like a screenshot from ‘Barbie’).
The renderings all seem to show neighborhoods as their quietest and most residential, showing primarily single-family homes, cars parked curbside, and a marked absence of people—despite the fact that many of the cities in question are some of the nation’s densest and most populated. Even the New York City image manages to include a plethora of foregrounded cars and no humans. It seems that when AI seeks out information about U.S. cities, it finds sterile, auto-oriented, suburban neighborhoods. Is it wrong?
FULL STORY: AI’s Interpretation of American Neighborhoods in 20 Images
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions