Using AI to Write About the Future of Cities

Using Mesopotamia.AI to write about the future of cities.

Introduction:

A recent post on CityLab presented a use case for AI generated images as a quick way to mock up changes to the built environment, and it nicely exemplified the potential use of AI in my own work as an urban planner. In addition to working on designs, urban planners write a lot of reports and blog posts, and so I wanted to explore the power of AI generated text.

For this blog post, I used Mesopotamia’s text generation: “future forecast.” The bolded text is the two-word prompt I entered. Here’s what the algorithm came up with.

Prompt - “Urban Society”

The next decade will see a continued increase in the number of people living in cities, as well as the number of cities with populations of over one million. This trend will be driven by a combination of factors, including economic opportunity, population growth, and the effects of climate change. As cities grow, they will become increasingly complex systems, and the challenges of managing them will become more acute. In response, we will see the development of new technologies and approaches to urban management, including the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence to help city officials make better decisions. We will also see the rise of “smart cities,” in which sensors and other devices are used to collect data that can be used to improve the efficiency of city operations.

Prompt - “Urban Family”

In the next decade, we will see a continued trend of families moving into cities. This is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing cost of housing in suburban and rural areas, the availability of jobs in urban areas, and the desire for greater access to amenities and services. As families move into cities, they will face a number of challenges, including finding adequate housing, dealing with traffic and congestion, and coping with the increased pace of life. To address these challenges, families will need to be more organized and efficient in their daily lives. They will also need to develop new ways of interacting with their extended families and friends, as well as the wider community.

Prompt - “Sustainable Cities"

The next decade will see a continued focus on making cities more sustainable, with a particular emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This will be driven in part by the need to meet international climate targets, but also by the increasing awareness of the health and economic benefits of reducing air pollution. A number of cities have already committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, and it is likely that many more will follow suit. This will require a major shift in the way that cities are designed and operated, with a focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. In addition, sustainable cities will need to be more resilient to the effects of climate change, such as floods and heatwaves. This will require changes to the way that infrastructure is designed and built, as well as changes to the way that people live and work.

Prompt - “Materials for Infrastructure”

In the next decade, the development and deployment of materials for infrastructure will be driven by three primary needs: the need for resilience in the face of extreme weather and climate change, the need for sustainability in the face of dwindling resources, and the need for adaptability in the face of a rapidly changing world.

The first need, resilience, will be driven by the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. These events will damage and destroy traditional infrastructure, making it clear that new approaches are needed.

The second need, sustainability, will be driven by the need to reduce the environmental impact of infrastructure. As the world becomes more aware of the finite nature of the resources that we use to build and maintain our infrastructure, there will be a growing demand for materials that are sustainable and have a low environmental impact.

The third need, adaptability, will be driven by the need to respond to the rapidly changing world. As the world changes, so too must the materials that we use to build our infrastructure. We will need materials that can be quickly and easily adapted to new conditions, and that are capable of evolving along with the world around us.

In the next decade, the development of materials for infrastructure will be driven by these three needs. We will see the emergence of new materials, and the repurposing of existing materials, that are designed to meet these needs. We will also see the development of new methods for using these materials, and the deployment of these materials in new and innovative ways.

Prompt - “Society Hope'“

The next decade will be a time of great upheaval, as the world comes to grips with the reality of climate change and the accelerating pace of technological change. In the midst of this turmoil, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that there is still much to hope for. The future will be a time of great opportunity, as well, as a time of great challenges. We will need to rise to meet those challenges, but if we do, the future can be a bright one.