Saudi Arabia dominated the headlines this week, as the country became the first to recognise a humanoid robot as a citizen and announced plans to invest $500 billion into a city that will be run using artificial intelligence.
Sophia, an intelligent humanoid robot created by Hanson Robotics, became the first AI device to be awarded citizenship of a country.
She announced the decision during a panel discussion at the Future Investment Initiative conference, during which she also poked fun at Elon Musk's fears over the future risk posed by robots to humanity.
The Saudi Arabian government took plans for technological advancement a further step, announcing a $500 billion investment in a fully automated city to be shared with Egypt and Jordan. The 26,500-square-kilometre city, Neom, will become an independent economic trade zone with its own laws.
In Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Zaha Hadid Architects completed its King Abudullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre, which made up of hexagonal pods that interlock like honeycomb.
Elsewhere, David Adjaye and Ron Arad won a competition the design the UK's National Holocaust Memorial, to be built near London's Houses of Parliament.
Also in the UK capital, mayor Sadiq Khan claimed that Bloomberg's new Norman Foster-designed European headquarters in the city "sends a clear message to the world" that the city is still open to investment despite Brexit.
In the US, prototypes of eight designs for President Donald Trump's proposed 30-foot tall border wall were constructed in San Diego, while media mogul Barry Diller launched a final attempt to build Thomas Heatherwick's abandoned treasure island park in New York.
Snøhetta unveiled plans for Europe's first underwater restaurant, that will be partially submerged in the seas of southern Norway, and one of the world's first 3D-printed concrete bridges completed in the Netherlands.
Our coverage of Dutch Design Week included sustainable foods of the future, household cleaning products turned into waterless capsules, and a colourful reconfigurable hotel by MVRDV.
Popular projects on Dezeen this week included a restrained London home extension, and a New York office with a millennial-pink kitchen and dark nap room.