Drone taxis and fairly cheap beer: AI predicts how Prague will change by 2050

In the next 25 years, Prague is on track to become a dynamic metropolis of nearly 2 million residents—many of them from abroad—who will live, work, and thrive in a city reimagined for the future.

Curious about what’s in store, Czech media outlet E15.cz asked AI to predict what Prague could look like by 2050. From smart transport to affordable housing, here’s how the future of the Czech capital is shaping up—based on real trends, city plans, and emerging innovations.

At the heart of Prague’s mobility revolution is the new Metro S (to be installed after the Metro D line)—a driverless line linking Florenc, Hlavní nádraží, and Vršovice in under three minutes. Powered by predictive AI, Metro S continuously adapts service to passenger flow and weather conditions, optimizing efficiency and comfort.

The new Smíchov City hub—already in the works—underscores Prague’s intermodal transport, combining metro, regional rail, electric buses, bike-sharing pods, and rooftop drone taxis. AI says these modes seamlessly integrate to reduce reliance on private cars, which will have become scarce downtown by 2050. AI-managed traffic prioritizes delivery vehicles, emergency services, and shared micro-vehicles for short trips.

By 2025, Václav Havel Airport will have high-speed rail lines connecting with Berlin, Vienna, and beyond—a further development on current work to better connect the city center with the airport.

Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure will have expanded with shaded boulevards, dynamic crosswalks that adjust their timings based on foot traffic.

By 2025, Prague will have “aggressively expanded” its municipal housing with over 8,000 new affordable units in now-fully revitalized districts like Žižkov, Palmovka, and Bubny-Zátory. Housing cooperatives will empower residents to co-create sustainable, community-oriented living spaces, AI predicts.

Strict caps on short-term rentals protect the city’s housing stock for residents, preventing gentrification and ensuring neighborhood stability. Long-term rental contracts with rent caps and integrated services such as home maintenance, health visits, concierge for the elderly, and community activities will have become the norm by 2025, AI envisages.

The 110-hectare Bubny-Zátory district, for example, also exemplifies climate-adaptive urbanism. It houses 25,000 residents and 29,000 jobs within a walkable 15-minute radius, minimizing car dependence. 

In 25 years’ time, personal AI gadgets that every person carries will assist citizens with daily tasks—whether scheduling healthcare, navigating bureaucracy, or providing mental health support.

Public libraries will have evolved into community tech hubs, offering virtual reality learning, coding clubs, and free AI access to reduce digital divides across communities. So-called “smart benches” dotted around the city will be equipped with device chargers and real-time navigation aids.

Universal digital IDs will streamline access to health, education, and mobility services. Community credit systems reward volunteering and civic engagement, strengthening social cohesion.

Response: “By 2050, Prague's foreign population is projected to reach between 598,000 and 920,000. This growth is driven by the city's strong job market, educational opportunities, and high quality of life.”

Response: “Prague hosted approximately 6.5 million foreign tourists in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Given this upward trend, it's plausible that annual foreign visitor numbers could approach or exceed 10 million by 2050.”

Response: “Assuming a steady annual growth rate of 2-3 percent, the average salary could reach between CZK 100,000 and CZK 120,000. If prices increase at an average annual inflation rate of 2 percent, the cost of a half-liter of beer could rise to about CZK 110 by 2050.”