Episode 5: Prof. Carlo Ratti (MIT Senseable City Lab) — Will AI Reshape the Cities Around Us?

Professor Carlo Ratti is an architect, engineer, and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab, where he explores how AI, sensors, and data are changing the way cities function and how humans experience physical space. In this episode of Raised by Robots, Nolan and Professor Ratti discuss what happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond screens and starts shaping buildings, transportation, public spaces, and entire cities. They explore the balance between smarter cities and human creativity, the risks of surveillance and centralized control, and why the future of architecture may depend on combining technology with human connection. Topics covered in this episode:How AI is moving from software into the physical worldWhat makes a “sensible city” and how cities collect real-time dataHow AI can influence transportation, infrastructure, and architectureThe balance between smarter cities, privacy, and human freedomWhether AI can make cities more sustainable or more energy intensiveWhy future architects may need skills across design, engineering, sociology, and AI