This 75-minute session will examine how AI can advance urban planning in Canada while addressing the ethical, social, and professional challenges that can arise without meaningful oversight and consideration. As urban planning becomes more and more politically charged and the challenges facing our cities become increasingly complex, planners need to bring both expertise and innovation to the table. AI can augment the toolkit of planners, but poses risks around data veracity, intellectual property, and the amplification of bias, among others. Using real-world examples and best practices from emerging literature, this session will provide a practical overview of the tools and strategies to integrate AI into planning practice, seeking to leverage its capacity for innovation while mitigating its potential risks and limitations.
