04/14/2026
Professor Zhong-Ren Peng, alongside his current and former Ph.D. students, recently published “Symbiotic Planning Theory: The CORE Framework for Human-AI Co-Creation in Urban Planning” in the 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (JAPA).
The paper addresses a timely question: How can planners harness AI without giving up human judgment, democratic legitimacy, and institutional accountability?
The authors propose Symbiotic Planning Theory (SPT), which argues that AI should be treated not as a passive tool or an autonomous system, but as a co-creative partner in planning. While AI can help generate options, reveal hidden patterns, and simulate consequences, humans must still set goals, make value judgments, and retain final authority. As the paper puts it: AI proposes, humans authorize.
Using Gainesville’s shared e-scooter program as a case study, the paper examines the gap between deployment rules and actual use in designated Equity Zones. The research shows how AI, combined with community-defined equity constraints, can help shift service toward underserved areas and strengthen transit integration.
Read the full article at the 🔗 in our bio!
Zhong-Ren Peng is a Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and serves as Director of iAdapt, where he leads research on urban planning AI, transportation, and climate adaptation.
