For our debut episode, Tom Slater will be joined by Centro Planning Consultancy Director Aaron Zimmerman, MA, MSc, MRTPI for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about what happens when AI meets planning.

Aaron brings a compelling perspective: planning should be centred around spatial quality, human experience, and improving quality of life, yet too much of the profession remains consumed by repetitive administration, outdated systems, and process-driven inefficiencies.

Together, we’ll explore:

•⁠ ⁠Why AI may act as a “black mirror” for inefficient planning systems

•⁠ ⁠How AI-generated objections, planning statements, and plan-making tools could transform productivity

•⁠ ⁠Whether AI threatens jobs, or creates more time for reasoning, site presence, and human expertise

•⁠ ⁠The wider societal implications of AI, including data misuse, manipulation, and the future of information advantage

This first episode sets the tone for what the Design + AI Podcast is all about:

Honest conversations with industry leaders on how we embrace AI without losing the creativity, judgement, and leadership that shape better places.

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