When AI imagines cities, smaller communities can disappear

Researchers from Virginia Tech, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the University of Alabama conducted a study on AI-generated images of various cities.
They found that AI images were often more recognizable and representative of larger metropolitan areas than smaller towns like Blacksburg.
The study examined how well AI represented three Virginia localities: Blacksburg, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Washington, D.C.
Participants, including long-term residents, evaluated AI-generated images based on realism and how well they captured a city’s identity, with larger cities more accurately represented.
The research highlights the uneven representation of smaller communities in AI-generated content due to less online documentation.
Lead researcher pointed out the ethical implications of AI tools in planning and design and emphasized the need for more geographically comprehensive datasets.
The study underscores the importance of including local perspectives in AI development to avoid reinforcing disparities in representation between communities.