On October 22, 2025, the SOUR Podcast featured Rashid Mushkani (Lecturer, Université de Montréal; Researcher, Mila—Québec AI Institute) for a deep dive into co‑produced and public AI for cities. The conversation explores participatory datasets, pluralistic alignment, and governance grounded in data rights and data sovereignty—concrete ways to ensure AI reflects the values of the people it affects, rather than overwriting local knowledge.
Rashid discusses StreetReview, a community‑trained system for evaluating street quality, and AI Alignment for Inclusion (AIAI), a program that co‑designs alternatives with residents and civic partners. He advances a practical “Right to AI” and an augmented, co‑produced AI lifecycle where communities set the goals, metrics, and guardrails of the models shaping public space.
Listen to Episode 129 on your preferred platform and share with colleagues working at the intersection of urban planning, civic tech, and AI governance: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. https://www.sour.studio/podcast
To read the article : https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.11708
To contact Rashid Mushkani : https://rsdmu.com/#contact
This coverage aligns with the UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape’s commitment to urban landscapes that are inclusive, participatory, and accountable.