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Cultural planning has shape-shifted throughout its history, encompassing beautification initiatives, placemaking (and placekeeping) projects, and preservation work. But in the past decade, the field has accelerated significantly, according to Rana Amirtahmasebi and Jason Schupbach, the editors of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, a new manual that compiles the most innovative programs, policies, and approaches to the discipline that have recently emerged. A throughline? That creative wellness is essential to cities, and that everything from the climate crisis to displacement, tourism, public space, and infrastructure can benefit by centering culture and the people responsible for it. Its a provocative angle, considering how efficiency and technocracythe opposite of the difficult to quantify nature of culturestill dominate urban planning. As Amirtahmasebi and Schupbach write in the books introduction, cultural planning should be seen as a critical tool in the toolbox of building equitable communities and no longer as a siloed topic on the fringes of city policy. The new manual, which clocks in at over 500 pages, features case studies from around the world on how arts and culture are entering urban planning in new ways. While the usual suspects of public art, museums, and cultural districts appear in the book, theyre joined by less expected approaches. For example, an essay describes how the Los Angeles Department of Transportations first resident artist helped pedestrian safety come across more urgently by centering real people and their stories instead of statistics in Vision Zero presentations. Meanwhile, a chapter on land trusts explores how new ownership models are combatting real estate speculation in Oakland, California. [Cover Image: Routledge International] We spoke with Amirtahmasebi, an urban planner and cultural strategist, and Schupbach, Dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University, about their new book and what it means for the future of cities. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Congratulations on the book! What sparked it? Rana Amirtahmasebi: The field of cultural planning and policy has come a long way, but there was really no book about its intersection with other sectors and challenges like housing, gentrification, environment, economic development, public health, and disaster risk management. Jason Schupbach: We’re way beyond the just put a mural on a wall type of beautification projectalthough there’s an excellent article on murals in the book. Ideas are much more advanced today, but there hadn’t been a survey in almost 10 years, and there has been a massive explosion of thinking and networks and people in urban cultural planning. We thought, let’s get together all the people who are sophisticated about bringing cultural planning in conversation with other fields so that the handbook can be of actual use to people. Tell us about some of those new ways of thinking. I was drawn to a quote in the book from Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, the former head of the National Endowment for the Arts, who argued that creative wellness is part of how we understand a good quality of life and that planners should take note. Amirtahmasebi: What we missed as urban planners and policymakers is that we looked at the city as a bunch of sectors, like housing and transportation and we really didnt really think about how to bring all of them together. But the city is also a cultural construct. How do you make this into a place where people can live, thrive, and be happy? In one essay, Dr. David O. Fakunle and his coauthors write about the creative process of storytelling and how it’s a powerful tool to address disinvested communities, loneliness, and public mental health. So arts and culture can cultivate opportunities for human-centered approaches to individual and collective healing, growth, and empowerment. What are some of the new policies that represent a more integrated approach to cultural planning and cities? Schupbach: Cultural land trusts are a big one. Were so challenged by land prices in many places, and culture is one of the things that will get priced out first. How do you hold on? Theres an interesting article by Dr. Angie Kim about community ownership in Oakland, California. There, the East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative is exploring new financing models to buy land that might otherwise go to real estate speculators. And Erika Hennebury, a cultural affairs officer in the City of Toronto, offers a survey of cultural land trusts in Toronto, Vancouver, London, and San Francisco. Night mayors are another growing trend. Laia Gasch Caslas writes about how London implemented this policy, and theres so much practical stuff in there. When the area around the Ministry of Sound, the legendary electronic music club, began to gentrify, the city required new development to have triple-pane windows and soundproof walls. A housing development person might not have been concerned about something like that, but a person in the city government paying attention to culture at night was. Guaranteed income for artists through programs that fund them to do work in communities is a new trend, toolike the Mellon Foundations $125 million Creatives Rebuild New York COVID-19 relief initiative. There have been some real interesting innovations, and it’s always in a place you might least expect where culture might intersect with city making. Equity and justice are strong currents throughout the book. To rewind a bit, the conversation in the aughts around urban cultural planning revolved around orienting cities toward Creative Class in service of economic growth, which contributed to gentrification and displacement. You argue that just framing cultural planning from an economic perspective is limiting. Why is that an important distinction? Schupbach: Cities are very complex things and you need every tool in your tool kit to try to make it better for all of the citizens. There are cultural tools, so why wouldn’t you use them? In the aughts, there was a strong economic argument that kind of rode a wave across cities around the world because of Richard Floridas The Rise of the Creative Class book. It opened a lot of doors for mayors and cities to start a conversation about urban cltural planning. So Im grateful for that. What Florida was talking about still matters, but we have a deeper level of sophistication about all the places that culture can help, and also how to build equity and justice. This work has come way beyond the creative economy. It intersects with transportation, as Katherine Dirgas chapter on artists and transit planning explains. One chapter describes how a law lab at Northeastern University is working with community groups fighting housing instability. Amirtahmasebi: In a lot of contexts, when we talk about culture, we have to assign value. There’s no other way. In some places, there are grants available to develop theater or music or create a mural. But in a lot of parts of the world, when that money is not available, you have to make a case. So I think that’s why the creative class argument was very appealing to a lot of my colleagues and myself at the time. When you go talk to a mayor of a secondary city in Asia or Africa, how can you say let’s build a theater when you don’t have sanitation or housing? It’s extremely difficult to quantify qualities like social cohesion and social capital. Dr. Jackson says in the book that if you want to destroy a society, you kill the culture. It’s also true that if you want to build a society, you build their culture. It should be obvious, right? We shouldnt have to make an economic case for it. Recognizing where value lies is another theme. You argue that culture bearers are important to center in planning and that expanding the fields understanding of who these figures are is critical. Can you share a bit more about this? Schupbach: This concept of culture bearers is so important. It’s an inside urban cultural planning term, but it really is about who holds the culture in a place, and who passes it down. Everybody kind of knows who that is in their neighborhood probably, right? It’s not just about the formally trained artist. For example, altar makers in Los Angeles may not call themselves artists, but they are truly holders of the culture. There’s an article in the book on cultural asset mapping. It’s not just the number of artists and theaters; it’s really about digging deeper into what makes a place a place. Where would you like to see urban cultural planning go next? Amirtahmasebi: The next step is not thinking of culture as something that is completely separate from other sectors in the city. I would like cultural plans to be one chapter of the citys overall plan. A lot of times, cultural plans don’t speak to what is happening with planning departments in other parts of the city. Schupbach: Theres huge potential in the under-explored public health space. Dr. Fakunle saw the power of storytelling in the loneliness crisis, as we talked about. Well, there are a lot of health crises. There’s a lot of stuff about art therapy, but how does it intersect with place in a smart way? And how does that connect to disaster? We’re in a moment of creative destruction right now in the United States. A lot of stuff is being torn down. Im not so interested in the daily panic about the tear down; Im really interested in what do we build on the other side? What are the new policy ideas? What are the new structures we can build? Things are changing. A lot of things for a lot of people weren’t working before. Lets actually try to build something better. What do you see as the ultimate outcome of cultural planning applied to the fullest degree? Amirtahmasebi: The well-being of humans and being able to thrive, especially with intangible cultural heritage. To be the source of social and psychological resilience, especially in these times of hardship, everywhere in the world Schupbach: Hard same. The Routledge Handbook to Urban Cultural Planning is available from routledge.com.
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This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. The AI search landscape is transforming at breakneck speed. New “Deep Research” tools from ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity autonomously search and gather information from dozenseven hundredsof sites, then analyze and synthesize it to produce comprehensive reports. While a human might take days or weeks to produce these 30-page citation-backed reports, AI Deep Research reports are ready in minutes. Traditional AI queries deliver isolated answers to specific questions, while Deep Research tools conduct sophisticated investigations with dozens of interconnected searches. Its like the difference between a quick reference check and a thorough research expedition. Nine Practical Ways to Use AI for Deep Research AI research tools shine when you need comprehensive information on complex topics. Here are specific use cases where they excel: 1. Craft Custom Itineraries Create detailed, personalized travel plans by specifying your destination, dates, activity preferences, budget, cultural interests, and whatever else is important to you. These AI-generated itineraries often surface unexpected gems. When planning a family trip recently, my wife and I discovered a fantastic farm stay in Pennsylvania through a Perplexity query. We wouldn’t have found it otherwise. Use the results as a starting point to identify interesting possibilities, then follow up with targeted research. Specify dietary preferences, accessibility needs, and your taste in accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment, for more tailored recommendations. Ive saved a block of text about this to reuse. Use follow-up queries to get more specifics on attractions or activities that appeal to you, or to compare and contrast potential itineraries. Example: Deep Research itinerary for a family vacation in Brookline, MA. Compare results from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot. 2. Compile Organization Reports Get comprehensive backgrounders on companies, non-profits, or any organization in minutes rather than clicking through dozens of search results. Compare similar organizations or competitors Specify format. Maybe youd like a case study format, a topical report, a chronological history, or an industry context analysis. Specify metrics of interest like funding history, revenue growth patterns, leadership changes, media coverage trends, law suits, or anything else you care about. For closely-held private organizations data may be scarce, so read results skeptically. Advanced tip: Copy excerpts from Deep Research reports into Claude to transform them into visual dashboardsincluding charts and interactive elementsusing Claude Artifacts. You can share those with colleagues. Watch: Grace Leungs helpful video illustrates how and why to try this. Example: Deep Research report on Trader Joes. 3. Research Notable People Explore backgrounds of news figures, historical personalities, or even fictional characters. Request specific information like podcast appearances, YouTube videos, or published works to build a well-rounded understanding of the individual. Ask about connections between the person and influential contemporaries Ask for lesser-known background details or contributions often overlooked Specify time periods to focus on particular life phases or epochs Example: Deep Research on Michel de Montaigne. 4. Explore Complex Concepts Learn about complex topics in any fieldfrom botany to venture capitalwith AI-structured explanations tailored to your knowledge level. Ask for real-world examples, analogies, anecdotes, quotes, common misconceptions, and step-by-step explanations. Ask for quiz or discussion questions to test your understanding. After reading the report, generate an AI tutor with a Custom GPT, Gemini Gem, or Poe bot to further strengthen your understanding. Example: Applications for AI in medical diagnosis via Gemini & Perplexity. 5. Discover Places in Depth Investigate a places historical significance, cultural development, architecture, art, music, literature, or economic, social, or political history. I find this richer, personalized context can feel more resonant than a more generic travel guide. Ask about little-known local events, hidden gems, or notable personalities Specify your interest in fashion, architecture, history, sports, or whatever else Products too: Get a backgrounder on a new type of oven youre considering, or pianos that might suit your home. Example: Help me learn about Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts. 6. Analyze Debates and Controversies Explore complex controversies from multiple perspectives. Examine international conflicts, ethical debates, or local issues. Deep Research reports can present multiple viewpoints with examples and evidence to deepen your understanding of nuances. You can also ak for notable quotes and an annotated reading list. Ask how the debate has evolved over time and who has been involved Specify that you want evidence-based arguments from multiple disciplines Ask for areas of common ground between opposing viewpoints Example: Is generative art revolutionizing creativityor devaluing it? 7. Decode Cultural Works Gain insights into books, paintings, music, or other creative works by exploring critical analyses, historical context, and expert interpretations. This works particularly well when you’re in the middle of reading a book or have just encountered an intriguing piece of art. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art last week, I saw Tang Dynasty zodiac figurines and asked AI to help me learn about them. (More info & a generated image). Caveat: as a non-expert learning about something new, Im not always in a strong position to assess the merits of AI analysis. When in doubt, its helpful to have cited sources for gauging the quality of the information. Request info about a work’s influence on subsequent artists or movements Ask for analysis of technical innovations or stylistic elements Compare interpretations of the book, play, poem, art, or piece of music from different time periods or cultural contexts Example: Help me deepen my appreciation of Mozarts 5th Violin Concerto. 8. Explore Evolving Trends Investigate linguistic, political, fashion, sports, arts, business, or cultural trends in a particular place or time period, or compare trends across cultures. Ask for predictive insights about how the trend might evolve Include in your prompt questions about counter-trends or critics Request data visualizations if the trend has quantitative aspects, e.g. the Beanie Baby craze Example: What are top AI training programs for journalists around the world? 9. Examine Historical Context Explore historical events through multiple lenses – political, economic, social, and cultural. Direct your AI research assistant to focus on specific date ranges, if relevant. Ask it draw from diverse sources across countries and perspectives. Request primary source recommendations Ask for comparisons across countries, regions or time periods Specify your prior knowledge so the report is tailored for your context Example: Help me learn more about the history of the Dozier School for Boys. When Deep Research isn’t your best option Use other tools when youre not looking for a comprehensive research report, but instead want something quick, or for: Simple factual questions like award winners or sports results are better addressed with basic Google or Perplexity searches. Breaking news where online info is limited. Multimedia searches may work better with specialized search engines, like Listen Notes for finding someones podcast appearances. Paywalls If the open Web lacks relevant info, dont expect miracles. Further Caveats The bottom line: Check the source list before diving into a report. When you know of high quality sources, reference them in your prompt. This Claude thread helped me include high-quality sources for my Trader Joes inquiry. Keep an eye out for errors. Verify info in these reports. The presence of citations doesnt guarantee accuracy. For example, some sources may publish estimates that get treated by an AI search agent as definitive data. Research is only as good as its sources. Some subjects lack extensive source material. AI research reports may, in such cases, rely heavily on publishers with flimsy fact-checking or an axe to grind. How to strengthen Deep Research queries The quality of your prompt significantly impacts your results: Be detailed about your topic, reasons for interest, and how you’ll use the information Unlike standard Google searches where you only provide keywords, deep research queries benefit from detailed direction. Guide your AI research assistant on specific areas of focus, recommended sourcing, prior context, and formatting: how best to present its findings. Specify your preferred tone & format tables, lists, pros/cons, bullets Request tables for comparing options, pro/con lists for debates, or categorized lists for resources like podcasts, videos, and books. You can even customize language complexitygraduate-level analysis vs beginner-friendly simplicity. Provide context about your existing knowledge and audience Mention what you already know. If youll be sharing a report with colleagues, clarify that specific audiences context. If you want something brief, say so. Be patient. Quality research isnt instant. While Gemini and Perplexity typically deliver results within a few minutes, ChatGPT’s deeper analysis can take a half hour. The thoroughness of these results justifies the wait vs. instant but shallower search results. This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here.
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In my decades of working in cybersecurity, I have never seen a threat quite like the one we face today. Anyones image, likeness, and voice can be replicated on a photorealistic level cheaply and quickly. Malicious actors are using this novel technology to weaponize our personhood in attacks against our own organizations, livelihoods, and loved ones. As generative AI technology advances and the line between real and synthetic content blurs even further, so does the potential risk for companies, governments, and everyday people. Businesses are especially vulnerable to the rise of applicant fraudinterviewing or hiring a phony candidate with the intent of breaching an organization for financial gain or even nation-state espionage. Gartner predicts that by 2028, 25% of job candidates globally will be fake, driven largely by AI-generated profiles. Recruiters already encounter this mounting threat by noticing unnatural movements when speaking with candidates via videoconferencing. For many companies, the proverbial front door is wide open to these attacks without adequate protection from deepfake candidates or look-alike candidate swaps in the HR interview process. Its no longer enough to just protect against the vulnerabilities in our tech stacks and internal infrastructures. We must take security a step further to address todays uncharted AI-driven threat landscape, protecting our people and organizations from fraud and extortion before trust erodes and can no longer be restored. Fraud isnt new, but it is taking a new form Heres the thing: Synthetic identity fraud happens in the real world every day, and has for years. Think of the financial industry, where stolen Social Security numbers and other government identifiers allow fraudsters to open and close accounts in other peoples names and ransack savings and retirement funds. The difference now is that hackers no longer have to lurk in the shadows. Instead, a synthetically generated person shows up to a videoconferencing meeting and speaks to you live, and 80% of the time, people will perceive the AI-generated voice as its real counterpart. How do you protect against that? Interview impersonations are not new within HR. There have been cases where an employee’s family member interviews with a company, and a different person shows up on that first day of work. But as it becomes increasingly easier to create deepfakes (taking only about 10 minutes and a web browser), it becomes increasingly more difficult to differentiate between whats real and whats fake across applicants LinkedIn profiles, résumés, and the actual candidates themselves. Preparing our HR departments for a new attack landscape Unfortunately, HR teamsoften understaffed and using outdated techare frequently perceived as the weakest part of the organization by hackers and fraudsters given their lack of security focus (other than perhaps background checks). That makes the HR department the ideal entry point for an adversary. Coming through the front door via the hiring process is often far easier and more fruitful for malicious actors than the back door (i.e., taking advantage of infrastructure vulnerabilities). Further, adversaries could even capture recordings of executives during the interview process for future impersonation attacks or gain access to product road maps or other strategic information that could compromise the company down the road. HR leaders must be aware that fraud at the hiring level can take many different forms, but they cant be the only ones. The C-suite must also recognize these potential dangers to better equip HR teams to combat deepfake and impersonation fraud on the frontlines. For example, real-time deepfake video technology can be used to impersonate someone during virtual interviews, matching facial expressions and lip-syncing. Fraudsters will also use sophisticated voice cloning to simulate accents, intonations, or entire voices. Tools that most people use every day, like ChatGPT and Claude, are being used to fabricate résumés and cover letters, and even code samples or portfolio materials tailored to specific job postings. Information gleaned at any part of the interview process can be weaponized, including an organizations competitive strengths and weaknesses. The individuals who commit applicant fraud can repurpose information to solicit personal or confidential company information that can be used later for more severe extortion. We have already seen nation-states like North Korea leverage these techniques to infiltrate enterprises through their human resources departments. Its time we reassess security at every level and within every process to protect against these threats that show no signs of slowing down. Proper policies and procedures must be in place to navigate and respond to these attacks in real time. From an HR perspective, this involves awareness training on deepfakes, policy development, and implementing solution deployment services throughout to prevent an attack. With sophisticated tools, such as advanced audio and video content authentication and verification platforms that provide alerts if a threat of a deepfake is detected, we can also better detect and mitigate deepfakes, helping our teams understand exactly which aspects of a file are synthetic or manipulated. Its no longer enough to authenticate who is accessing a system from the outside. As we increasingly rely on images, audio, and video for critical decision-making, we now have a vested interest in verifying that every piece of digital content we consume is deemed trustworthy and accurate. If we dont, were putting everyonecolleagues, executives, and ourselvesat risk.
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