ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that AI has its roots in the historical development of language and its technologies. Language is central to the evolution of cities, a relationship that enabled cities to store and transmit information, and to innovate. Cities have long been hubs of communication. Conversational AI expands this function. The chapter explores the roles of chatter, rumour, storytelling and the voice. Considering the nature of conversation leads to an outline of what constitutes urban rationality. This linguistic framing challenges some traditional views, proposing a humanities-based framing to understand AI’s impact on urban development.
