Artificial intelligence as a tool for sustainable urban transformation in the European Union: Selected smart city cases

The climate crisis and the digital revolution — the two defining dynamics of the 21st century — have positioned cities as key actors in addressing global challenges. This thesis examines how artificial intelligence (AI) shapes sustainable urban transformation within the European Union (EU) and how cities emerge as subnational actors in this process. Employing a comparative multi-case study design, it analyzes how Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Vienna — each interacting with the EU's normative frameworks and policy instruments — have developed governance arrangements rooted in their distinct historical and institutional contexts. The findings indicate that there is no single model for AI-enabled sustainability; rather, three distinct governance archetypes emerge: Amsterdam's collaboration- and ecosystem-oriented model, Stockholm's sustainability-integration hybrid, and Vienna's human-centric and publicly led approach. These models are shaped at the intersection of EU-driven norm diffusion, financial support mechanisms, and intercity policy learning processes. Ultimately, this study provides an alternative perspective to the security- and competition-oriented debates dominating the International Relations literature on AI, demonstrating that cities are not merely policy implementers but also norm entrepreneurs and cooperation producers within the global digital transformation. It further underscores the importance of inclusive and context-sensitive governance models for the EU and policymakers.