Urban Design and the AI Revolution: The Technology and Its Implications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly important tool in urban design as cities respond to population growth, housing demand, transportation challenges, and environmental pressures. This paper presents a structured narrative review of how AI is currently used in urban planning and how it may shape future development. The review draws on peer-reviewed studies, technical standards, and selected industry examples, with sources organized into three categories: optimization systems, machine learning models, and generative AI systems. Across the literature, AI is shown to support planners by analyzing large datasets, identifying patterns, testing design trade-offs, and generating alternative planning options. At the same time, the evidence highlights important limitations, including biased or incomplete data, inaccurate outputs, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, high computational demands, and concerns about transparency and accountability. The paper also applies the PESTLE framework to examine the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental implications of AI adoption in urban design. Overall, the review suggests that AI can improve planning efficiency and support more sustainable development, but its value depends on responsible governance, human oversight, and careful management of technical and ethical risks.