Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we live and work, reshaping how leaders make decisions, manage risk, and deliver services. Changemakers in every sector are eager to adapt, but they need practical, evidence-based guidance on using AI responsibly and effectively.

Backed by nearly a decade of research into AI, a rigorous institutional AI policy, and advanced technology and data capacities, Urban is delivering actionable tools and insights to meet the moment.

Through research and technical assistance, Urban helps leaders assess risks and benefits, create guardrails, improve AI transparency, and ensure AI is deployed for the public good.

In 2025, Urban offered tangible recommendations for integrating AI into housing, education, and public transit policies and practices, maximizing benefits to communities and minimizing risks. We also started new projects and initiatives that will shed light on what roles AI can play in improving the future of work and the economy, expanding access to high-quality education data, and automating administrative tasks while enhancing safety and health in prisons and jails.

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Empowering local governments to adapt to AI. Urban experts translated research into an actionable framework for helping local leaders navigate and adopt AI applications. The framework maps out three AI use cases, their associated risks and benefits, and the capacity and guardrails needed for responsibly implementing each. This work has spurred new partnerships with peer organizations and requests to present our recommendations to local government staff working on AI policy and implementation.

Making automated home appraisals fairer. Previous Urban research into the automated valuation models (AVMs) used to appraise home values led to the inclusion of a nondiscrimination standard in a proposed AVM rule. In 2025, Urban experts extended this impact by offering the first evidence of AVM valuation errors at the individual level. We also developed a framework that lenders, appraisers, and the developers building AVMs can use to identify algorithmic biases and advance fairer home valuation systems that help more people access homeownership.

Assessing current uses of AI in state Medicaid agencies. Urban researchers evaluated where and how state Medicaid programs are using AI and developed concrete strategies that agencies can adopt to improve AI transparency and monitoring while protecting patients’ trust in the program. The study also informed a presentation to national leaders about the potential for using AI to improve maternal health outcomes in Medicaid, which covers more than 40 percent of all births in the US.