The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in general—and its subfield Generative AI (GenAI) in particular—into urban design and planning is revolutionizing traditional methodologies, providing innovative solutions to complex challenges in city development. Despite their transformative potential, existing research underscores a critical need to better understand the multifaceted advantages and challenges associated with these technologies. This study addresses this gap by investigating the causal relationships between the advantages and challenges of AI and GenAI integration in urban design and planning. Leveraging a novel combination of cognitive mapping and neutrosophic DEcision-MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), the research identifies and evaluates key factors shaping this integration. The findings reveal that dynamic digital city simulations and scenario modeling emerge as the most significant advantages, underscoring their capacity to drive data-informed innovation in urban development. Conversely, ethical concerns surface as the most critical challenge, exhibiting strong interdependencies with other issues, including the “black box” nature of AI systems and the biases embedded in training data. This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the interplay between these factors, offering actionable insights to guide both academic research and practical implementation. By addressing a pressing need in the field, the research paves the way for more responsible and effective applications of AI and GenAI in creating smarter, more sustainable urban environments.

The banking sector is one of the primary drivers of economic development. This sector has been affected by various crises throughout its history – most recently, the 2008 financial and economic crisis. In response, banking institutions have had to make diverse changes to their procedures and deal with new concerns related to changes within markets. One of the main recent developments in this sector is the new commercial function assigned to bank branch front-office employees, who have become responsible for selling financial products and services, as well as recruiting and retaining clients. As a result, the sector needs new employee performance evaluation methods in line with banks and staff members’ requirements. This study combined fuzzy cognitive mapping techniques and the system dynamics (SD) approach to develop a well-informed performance analysis system for assessing bank branch front-office employees. The proposed system was validated by the Business Process Management Competence Center director at Millennium BCP – a Portuguese private banking corporation. The main difference between the model constructed in the present research and current evaluation practices is that the criteria were collected directly from multiple specialists working at different commercial banks, who deal daily with this decision problem. The model’s theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

The metaverse is rapidly emerging as a key area of interest in business circles, promising an immersive experience for all users through virtual worlds. Within these computer-generated realms, users can create avatars to represent themselves and engage with other avatars and virtual environments. The title “Ali Baba and the 40 Metaverses” underscores the transformative potential of this innovation, which is often perceived as a magical technology. “Open sesame” was the magical phrase spoken to enter the cave in “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”, so too is the gateway into the enchanted realm of the metaverse—where the imagination reigns supreme—technologies such as virtual or augmented reality. However, the alluring prospect of the metaverse is associated with ethical issues that must be considered carefully, as they could significantly influence its acceptance and integration into societies and business settings. Using the 6-3-5 method | brainwriting and stepladder technique, this study develops a process-oriented analysis system to help companies identify and address ethical challenges related to metaverse technology. The results are based on two sessions with an expert panel, which not only shed light on the ethical paradigms associated with the metaverse but also provide actionable insights for businesses navigating this emerging landscape. To ensure the integrity and reliability of the findings, a consolidation session was conducted with an independent expert to validate the identified paradigms and pinpoint areas needing improvement.