Computer Says Maybe Local Laws for Global Technologies w/ Hillary Ronen
Oct 17, 2025
58:54
What’s it like working as a local representative when you live next door to Silicon Valley?
More like this: Chasing Away Sidewalk Labs w/ Bianca Wylie
When Hilary Ronen was on the board of supervisors for San Francisco, she had to make lots of decisions about technology. She felt unprepared. Now she sees local policymakers on the frontlines of a battle of resources and governance in an AI era, and is working to upskill them to make better decisions for their constituents. No degree in computer science required.
Further reading & resources:
- Local Leadership in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and the Tech Oligarchy by Hillary Ronen
- More on Hillary’s work as a Supervisor for SF
- Hillary Ronen on progressives, messaging, hard choices, and justice — interview in 48Hills from January 2025
- More about Local Progress
- Confronting Preemption — a short briefing by Local Progress
- What Happens When State and Local Laws Conflict — article on state-level preemption by State Court Report
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