Little Architects founder Dolores Victoria Ruiz Garrido weighs in on AI’s role in urban design for kids. She warns: AI isn’t a shortcut to understanding cities.
Putting AI to work in participatory urban design with children and youth is picking up pace. But Garrido stresses this tech tool must be used ethically and with care.
Her decade-old program at London’s Architectural Association pushes an important point: cities can’t be fully grasped on a screen. 
Dolores Victoria Ruiz Garrido stated:
"The city cannot be understood from the screen—it must be grasped through the body, the walk, and wonder. Before generating stunning or visually beautiful images to transform the city, we must teach how to read it: to observe, understand, and emotionally connect with it."
She’s clear AI can enrich education and community design but only if it helps kids engage with real urban experiences—not just digital visuals.
