Scaling with Empathy: AI Solutions for Urban Planning

As cities and towns incorporate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) into urban planning, Lee Cherry is asking an important question: how can they best ensure AI is used fairly and ethically?

The concept is at the heart of Cherry’s research as he pursues his Doctor of Design from NC State’s College of Design.

Cherry currently serves as lead manager of Digital Fabrication, Emerging Technology and Innovation for the College of Design, and received two degrees from NC State — a bachelor’s in industrial design from the College of Design in 1996 and an MBA from the Poole College of Management in 2005.

His current research stems from a lecture about generative AI and computational design that he presented on campus. Looking at a technology platform used by the City of Raleigh led him to question how AI-based technology can best be implemented responsibly.

“It was clear to me that they were introducing these tools and platforms with very little safeguards for the human-centric side of things,” he says.

Cherry examined how AI can serve communities while keeping in mind important factors such as privacy, equal access and transparency about how decisions are made. For example, he noted that if AI systems make decisions without providing reasoning, it can be difficult for users to trust those decisions.

And, when it comes to equal access, he found a divide between urban and rural areas. Larger cities are more likely to have the resources to implement AI technology, whereas rural communities may lack the resources and access.

“I’m writing my dissertation and research findings in a way where I can look at how AI-based civic technology for large cities can be scaled up or down, and possibly help rural communities in the future,” he says.

A unique part of Cherry’s research focuses on how cultural differences impact approaches to the use of AI technologies. As AI systems are implemented around the world, he notes that how societies view topics like privacy and fairness can impact how AI governance is developed.

Ultimately, Cherry’s research will help cities scale their AI solutions with four considerations in mind: fairness, empathy, accessibility and responsibility, he says.

He plans to bring what he’s learned back to the classroom as well. As the use of AI continues to quickly evolve, it’s important the next generation is well-informed.

“Young professionals will need to understand how to mitigate the challenges of using these tools and integrate them into their daily workflow and production pipelines,” he says.

This article first appeared in the spring 2025 issue of Designlife magazine. Explore other articles from this issue.