Sacco, Sabrina (2025) WHAT IF? or How a Convivial AI Could Build Collective Knowledge on Cultural Heritage. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

What if? is the title of this thesis, which embarks on an exploratory journey, inviting the reader to question the challenges posed by AI in its integration into decision-making processes in urban contexts, particularly those involving local community engagement. The research focuses on the role of AI in deliberative decision-making processes, especially during the knowledge phase that underpins these decisions. The study tackles key challenges in artificial intelligence, community engagement and urban environment, proposing a shift from traditional extractive data models toward a more participatory and inclusive approach to AI development and application. The study is divided into three main sections: Theoretical Framework: This section introduces convivial AI and places it within broader discussions on cultural heritage, urban dynamics and participatory methodologies. It demonstrates how convivial AI diverges from traditional AI models by prioritizing inclusivity, community empowerment and ethical engagement. The framework integrates feminist, ecological and radical theories on AI, knowledge, data and participatory design to underpin the methodology. Methodology: A convivial methodology is developed through three interrelated phases: Context Awareness, Tools Co-Design (both physical and digital) and Knowledge Co-Creation. This flexible and scalable approach emphasizes slow data collection and participatory methods to ensure that community insights are deeply embedded in the knowledge creation process. Experimentations: The methodology is tested through three pilots: Castellammare di Stabia, Utrecht and Atena Lucana. Each pilot operates at different territorial scales and demonstrates how convivial AI can empower communities to articulate their values and create shared understandings of cultural heritage. The results highlight how integrating digital and physical tools can transform collective knowledge into actionable insights for urban planning strategies. This research emphasizes the transformative potential of convivial AI in reshaping our engagement with cultural heritage and urban planning. It critically examines the limitations of data extractivism, particularly in urban contexts, where the commodification of cultural heritage data risks oversimplifying and erasing the complexity of local identities. It explores how AI can evolve from a tool for efficiency into a medium that fosters dialogue and collaboration between communities and decision-makers, thus shifting the focus from the product to the process. This shift promotes deeper community involvement, empowering local populations to actively shape their environments and tools. The three pilots provide a foundation for future discussions on integrating collective knowledge into urban development strategies, paving the way for more inclusive, deliberative and context-aware decision-making. Yet, this research remains firmly within the realm of what if. It raises provocative questions about AI's potential to bridge the gap between communities and policymakers, rethinking urban strategy development. While the vision here is speculative, it provides a roadmap for future exploration, encouraging collaboration between researchers, technologists and communities. The journey of convivial AI is far from over — it has only just begun. By continuing to explore this vision and fostering transdisciplinary collaborations, we can take meaningful steps toward a future where AI become a catalyst for collective agency and shared innovation.

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