Artificial Intelligence to Analyze the Sustainability of Cities and Strengthen the Comprehensive Education of University Students

Abstract

Accelerated urbanization and associated phenomena—such as inequality, poverty, overpopulation, habitat degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and depletion of natural resources—continue to hinder progress toward sustainable development. Although the urgency of these challenges is evident, a marked social indifference persists, also reflected among university students, who often display disinterest, rote learning, and limited ethical awareness. This cognitive and attitudinal disconnection hinders the construction of robust knowledge and the development of critical competencies needed to understand and mitigate complex socio-environmental challenges. This study presents the results of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into a university educational environment to strengthen critical reasoning, ethical decision-making, and interdisciplinary understanding related to climate change and sustainable development. AI was employed to analyze urban data, model scenarios, and generate strategies aimed at improving community sustainability, positioning students as active agents in the analysis of socio-ecological systems. Findings show that pedagogical integration of AI significantly increases student interest, participation, and the development of both disciplinary and transversal competencies by providing dynamic, contextualized learning experiences aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The adoption of emerging technologies in higher education not only enhances the understanding of present environmental challenges but also empowers students as active contributors in constructing sustainable solutions for their communities.