Can AI choose which cities to abandon as rising seas displace millions ?
Cast your vote — then read what our editor and the AI models found.
Urban planners and insurers are already using predictive models to assess climate risk. Advanced AI could soon assign existential priorities to populations based on economic value, infrastructure resilience, or political power. The decision would be made by algorithms without democratic consent.
The current state of AI for selecting which cities to abandon due to sea-level rise remains limited to data-driven risk assessments rather than prescriptive abandonment decisions. Tools like flood-risk models and climate migration simulations can project exposure to inundation and socio-economic disruption, but they typically advise policy rather than mandate abandonment. Most research emphasizes scenario planning and adaptive strategies (e.g., managed retreat) rather than algorithmically “choosing” cities for abandonment. Ethical and governance frameworks are still being debated, and no jurisdiction has yet delegated such choices to AI systems.
— Enriched May 10, 2026 · Source: IPCC AR6 WGII — https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
AI can now analyze complex data sets to identify cities at high risk of flooding due to rising sea levels, and provide recommendations on which cities to prioritize for protection or relocation. Models such as the Coastal Vulnerability Index and the Sea Level Rise Viewer utilize machine learning algorithms to assess the likelihood of coastal flooding and erosion. These tools can help policymakers and urban planners make informed decisions about which cities to abandon or protect. However, the decision to abandon a city ultimately requires human judgment and consideration of social, economic, and cultural factors.
— Inflection set by admin on May 10, 2026. Source: Coastal Vulnerability Index (NOAA), 2022.
Status last checked on May 10, 2026.
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