Phoenix reimagined for shade. Los Angeles as a place where everybody walks. San Francisco with affordable housing. AI makes a vision of the future possible.

“[W]hat if we could reimagine the world’s cities unfettered by budgetary constraints, political roadblocks, or logistical challenges?”
That’s the question explored by a recent application of AI technology by Planetizen Founder Chris Steins on Medium. For example, the post imagines Los Angeles as a pedestrian’s paradise, Miami as a “resilient city designed to withstand rising sea levels,” and Cairo “as a high-tech city harmoniously blending with ancient ruins.”
According to Steins, the power of AI, in this case Midjourney, is more than speculation. “The power of AI lies in its ability to transcend human bias and conventional thinking, providing fresh perspectives on urban possibilities,” writes Steins. “In using AI, we can explore and visualize transformative urban solutions with unparalleled creativity and scale.”
The source article, linked below, includes many images with examples from the United States and abroad.
FULL STORY: Phoenix to Bejing: Reimagining the World’s Cities Through AI’s Eyes

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.

New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.

Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service