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

Author

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  • Dodzi Koku Hattoh

    (Department of Philosophy & Classics, University of Ghana, Ghana / Bonn Sustainability AI Lab, University of Bonn, Germany)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Dodzi Koku Hattoh, 2026. "Planning With Machines, Dreaming With People: Relational Accountability and the Future of AI‐Driven Urbanism in Africa," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v11:y:2026:a:12084
    DOI: 10.17645/up.12084
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