Artificial Intelligence Empowering the Modernization of Super-Urban Governance in Chengdu: Mechanism Logic and Effectiveness Evaluation

Abstract

Megacity governance faces the dual challenges of institutional compatibility and technological empowerment as a result of the in-depth application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. A critical and cutting-edge topic in urban governance research is how to integrate AI into the megacity governance system to boost governance efficacy. Existing studies mostly focus on macro-institutional analysis or quantitative efficiency evaluation, and lack in-depth qualitative examination of the specific mechanisms and practical effects of AI-enabled governance in China's megacities. Using Chengdu, a megacity in western China with a permanent population of more than 21.47 million, as the research object, this study takes technological empowerment theory, collaborative governance theory, and refined governance theory as its analytical framework, and adopts case study and literature review methods. Four representative cases are selected: the Smart Chengdu Command Center, AI application in grassroots micro-grid and practical grid, AI application scenario for Park City ecological governance, and AI-enabled government services. The study systematically examines the mechanisms by which AI facilitates the modernization of governance in Chengdu's megacity, assessing its efficacy across four dimensions: enhancement of public services, optimization of governance efficiency, improvement of social collaboration, and advancement of risk prevention and control.The study finds that Chengdu's practice has created a framework that focuses on empowerment and has made progress in many areas. But it still needs to do a lot more to get rid of data barriers, make algorithms clearer, and show people how to use technology.