Planning With Machines, Dreaming With People: Relational Accountability and the Future of AI‐Driven Urbanism in Africa

Source abstract

African cities are undergoing rapid transformation, with a growing share of the population projected to reside in urban areas by 2050. This commentary examines both the promise and limitations of AI‐driven urban planning through a relational accountability lens. It argues that AI should not stand apart from the urban contexts it shapes but be embedded within governance systems that recognise the interdependence of social, technical, and ecological systems. Thus, by combining participatory governance, ethical foresight, and sustainability, AI can support urban futures that are not only efficient and innovative but also just, inclusive, resilient, and ecologically grounded.