Envisioning New Technology in Geodesign Scenarios

Abstract

Geodesign integrates geographical sciences and design arts, with technology playing a pivotal role in its evolution. While new technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is advancing rapidly, its impact on geodesign remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the role of new technology in geodesign change models, including AI, AI‐enabling tools like Python, and AI‐enabled products such as global‐scale datasets trained with machine learning models. With Xiong’an New Area, China, as a test site, four scenarios are developed through machine learning, semantic segmentation, and Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks methods. Findings reveal that new technology excels in predictive scenarios, where tasks are well‐defined, but struggles with prescriptive scenarios requiring design creativity. The strengths and weaknesses of new technology in geodesign scenarios are discussed, such as its greater flexibility in scenario customization and higher technical barriers for coding skills. We argue that the primary limitation lies in the lack of design‐thinking in new technology development; this may hinder further advancements in geodesign applications. Nonetheless, the expanding capabilities, rapid technological progress, and increasing interdisciplinary integration of new technology suggest a promising future for its role in geodesign.