Can AI Save Cities From the Urban Doom Loop? | Arpit Gupta

Economist Arpit Gupta joins Aaron to break down the future of American cities after remote work, office real estate collapse, and the rise of AI.

From the “Urban Doom Loop” — where falling commercial property values crush city tax revenue and trigger a vicious spiral — to surging suburban housing prices, office-to-residential conversions, and the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles, this conversation covers the biggest forces reshaping urban America.

Will AI supercharge white-collar job growth and rescue downtowns, or accelerate the displacement of routine office work? Are superstar cities like New York and San Francisco pulling ahead while second-tier cities struggle? And how will self-driving cars radically expand commuting patterns and city sprawl?

CHAPTERS:
(00:00 – Introduction & The Urban Doom Loop Explained)
(03:20 – Post-COVID Office Market Recovery (or Lack Thereof))
(07:45 – Why Housing Prices Are Soaring While Offices Collapse)
(12:10 – Remote Work’s Lasting Impact on City Centers)
(15:30 – AI’s Dual Effect on White-Collar Jobs & Office Demand)
(22:40 – Can Tourism or “Playground Cities” Replace Commerce?)
(26:15 – Agglomeration Effects in the Age of Zoom & AI)
(31:40 – Advice for Young People Entering the Job Market)
(36:50 – The Game-Changer: Autonomous Vehicles & the Future of Sprawl)
(43:20 – Will Most Cities Decline or Adapt?)

ARPIT GUPTA LINKS:
🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/arpitrage
🌐 Arpit Gupta's NYU Homepage: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/arpit-gupta

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