Phoenix to Bejing: Reimagining the World’s Cities Through AI’s Eyes

Phoenix transformed into a city with buildings designed for optimal shade and heat reflection and a system for atmospheric water harvesting. Source: Midjourney.

In the continuing churn of urban development, cities embody humanity’s past, present, and future. They are the concrete and steel testament to our collective ambition, progress, and at times, our follies.

But what if we could reimagine the world’s cities unfettered by budgetary constraints, political roadblocks, or logistical challenges?

In this series of images, I’ve asked two of the leading artificial intelligence engines (ChatGPT and Midjourney) to reimagine 25 well-known cities, each created based on a theme unique to that city.

For example, what would Los Angeles look like if it were a pedestrian’s paradise, free from the infamous gridlock? Or if Miami was transformed into a resilient city designed to withstand rising sea levels? Or if Cairo was reimagined as a high-tech city harmoniously blending with ancient ruins.

Washington D.C. reimagined as a city with green rooftops, solar-paneled monuments, and a network of tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly boulevards.

Miami reimagined as a resilient city designed to withstand rising sea levels.