Reimagining AI as Cultural Infrastructure: Bridging Heritage, Urban Life, and Digital Responsibility

Artificial Intelligence (AI) permeates academic, policy and economic debate. The United States are leading the critical discussion on its multilayered risks and perspectives and yet, AI’s cultural dimension remains underexplored. In contrast Europe - and Italy in particular – has taken a slower, more cautious approach, advocating for AI that prioritize societal well-being over purely economic objectives. Europe has long emphasized the integration of digitalization with cultural policy, producing guidelines to ensure technology aligns with values of trust, creativity, adaptability, and social responsibility (Floridi et al. 2018). The European Union’s AI Act exemplifies this vision, aiming for a human-centric and ethical use of AI (EC 2021). However, the Act rarely addresses culture explicitly - a clear oversight given AI’s reliance on cultural inputs such as texts, images, and values that shape its design and application. This omission expresses a gap in how AI policy: the failure to consider cultural preservation, diversity, and local traditions, which often resist easy incorporation into predominantly techno-optimistic framework. As scholars in urban technology, it is our responsibility to delve deeper into AI’s role in cultural heritage and urban environments. We must explore and understand the social responsibilities associated with AI-driven infrastructures and test frameworks that support cultural diversity, encourage public participation, and uphold local governance.