For example, Lurie said he convinced Databricks to hold its AI conference in San Francisco through 2030, instead of moving to Las Vegas as the company originally planned. Last month, the mayor also attended the ribbon cutting for a new OpenAI office.
While these AI companies may get tax cuts, the mayor wants them to invest in San Francisco in other ways. Specifically, he wants OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to “get loud about” their investments in San Francisco’s arts and culture scenes, which he says the company has already been doing quietly.
But Lurie doesn’t just want the tech industry’s dollars, he’s after their ideas as well. The city recently announced the Partnership for San Francisco — a consortium of business leaders, including The Atlantic owner and Steve Jobs widow Laurene Powell Jobs, famed Apple designer Jony Ive, and Altman — to help give businesses a clear channel to talk with city hall.
Robotaxis in SF
But some San Franciscans are concerned the tech industry is pushing out other communities. That tension recently flared up when Waymo tried obtaining a permit to map out the SFO airport, allowing its robotaxis to take riders to and from the airport.
Waymo successfully obtained an SFO mapping permit, but it came with a strict carveout to ensure Waymo wouldn’t move commercial goods to and from the airport. Thanks to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, delivery drivers hold great power in San Francisco’s city hall.
Lurie said he worked out deals with labor unions to get Waymo’s SFO permit done, but clarified that “Waymo is not going anywhere.”
The mayor said he’s convinced that autonomous vehicles are “where the future is going,” and that he’s talked with other companies about having a larger presence in city. Lurie also didn’t rule out building the city’s infrastructure to accommodate more autonomous vehicles.
While much of the tech industry’s innovation has historically happened in Silicon Valley, about 40 miles south of the city, the AI boom seems firmly centered in San Francisco. Lurie says that’s given the city some momentum to really bring innovation back to the city.
