Research for REGI Committee - Artificial Intelligence and Urban Development

This research paper explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in urban areas, and its impact on socio-economic and territorial cohesion. It argues that expectations surrounding AI are high, especially in the context of smart-city initiatives, but that the actual benefits are yet to be fully assessed. To avoid potential risks, local and urban authorities need to fulfil a series of conditions that are inherently challenging. The EU’s AI Policy and its Cohesion Policy, in particular, may help, but they need to address the territorial dimension of AI more explicitly.