Citizen-Centered Generative AI for Urban Transformation

The AI Copacabana Demo Case

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62161/sauc.v11.5995

Keywords:

Generative AI, People-Centered Smart Cities, ISC Model, Strategic Design Thinking, Well-being , Sustainability, Decentralization

Abstract

This paper presents the development and real-world testing of AI Copacabana, a customized virtual assistant designed to operationalize the Innovation Model for Smart Sustainable Cities (ISC Model) by connecting the Local Innovation Map (LIM) with citizen-led actions. Validated at TRL5 in Copacabana, the prototype demonstrates how AI can act as a bridge between territorial diagnoses and community-driven initiatives—solutions that are decentralized, aligned with sustainable urban development goals, and integrated to impact local quality of life positively. Embedding a culturally familiar AI tool within participatory frameworks, the study illustrates new pathways for scalable, people-centered smart cities and sustainable urban innovation.

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Author Biography

Fabienne Schiavo, PONTIFICAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF RIO D EJANEIRO (PUC-RIO)

Fabienne Torres Schiavo is a consultant specialized in strategic innovation for smart and sustainable territories, with over 20 years of experience in socio-environmental impact projects. A postdoctoral researcher at PUC-Rio on Artificial Intelligence applied to urban innovation, she holds a Ph.D. in Innovation for Smart Cities from the same institution, in collaboration with Copenhagen Business School, and a Master’s in Public Administration from FGV.

She has led strategic projects with organizations such as UN-Habitat, the City of Rio de Janeiro, and the Government of Alagoas, being responsible for award-winning initiatives such as the Rio+30 program and the ISC Model, internationally recognized by the Design Management Institute (USA). She is a partner at Comunicarte, Vice President of the Smart City Business America Institute, and a member of national and international committees related to digital transition, strategic design, and the SDGs. Author of articles and book chapters on people-centered cities, her work combines technology, sustainability, and social well-being as foundations for the urban future.

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Published

2025-11-28

How to Cite

Schiavo, F., & Freitas de Magalhães, C. (2025). Citizen-Centered Generative AI for Urban Transformation: The AI Copacabana Demo Case. Street Art & Urban Creativity, 11(7), 111–136. https://doi.org/10.62161/sauc.v11.5995

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 7 (2025): Special Issue: Smart City World Congress

Section

Special Issue SmartCityExpo

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