A 30-year-old tech entrepreneur and his investors aim to establish a visionary, AI-driven city in distant Uruguay, with initial residents anticipated to move in by mid-next year, as announced by the New York-based company involved in the project.
Pursuing this ambition, Praxis, led by CEO Dryden Brown, has reportedly garnered support from backers including a fund linked to billionaire Peter Thiel. Brown noted that they chose Uruguay for its “natural beauty, political and economic stability.” He has also expressed a desire for the city’s architecture to blend gothic elements with a futuristic aesthetic.
This week, Brown is expected to meet with Uruguay’s President Yamandu Orsi while the latter is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The first stage of the city is set to be developed within +Colonia, an existing area near Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, which is led by Eduardo Bastitta, also an advisor to Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
In a statement, Brown mentioned, “The AI industry is building technology that will fundamentally change the role of human labor. We are building a place to explore what comes next.”
He further posed significant questions on finding purpose in today’s world and how to transform newly amassed wealth into a thriving society. “These are the questions we want to make practical in Uruguay,” he added.
Though specifics remain limited, Praxis intends to attract $1 billion in investments over the next three years, with the first residents expected by mid-2027.
The firm is ambitious, claiming that the upcoming AI revolution will facilitate the city’s development similarly to how wealth from banking and commerce transformed Florence into the epicenter of the Renaissance.
Praxis aims to introduce innovative cultural, economic, and technological approaches, crafted for a future driven by artificial general intelligence.
Brown mentioned plans to relocate to the site by December, with plans to acquire land within +Colonia by year-end.
“Having, like, an actual place is, like, really, really fire,” he remarked.
He envisions the city as a foundation for a new culture that draws inspiration from the legacies of ancient Greece and Rome, with revenue from home sales supporting its establishment.
“Part of what AI creates will go towards funding the next great generation of artists, architects, and thinkers,” he stated in a press release. “We want the sale of exceptional homes to pay for extraordinary culture. The people who make a city worth living in should be able to afford to live there.”
Initially, Brown had expressed an aspiration for Praxis to function as its own city-state, independent of any nation’s laws. However, he has since indicated that while self-governance is a longer-term goal, he will adhere to Uruguay’s legal framework for now.
Other possibilities, including Greenland, were explored before settling on Uruguay.
This project reflects a growing trend among wealthy tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley who seek to redefine society according to their vision.
As previously reported, a cadre of elite tech investors, including Marc Andreesen, Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powell Jobs, has attempted for years to create a new city in Solano County, California, but faced significant local opposition, which has stalled progress.
The organizers dismiss local criticism, suggesting they are merely aiming to create a walkable city with short commutes, thousands of high-paying jobs, sustainable energy solutions, ample orchards, and affordable housing.
Praxis has not responded to requests for further comment.
