POLITICO Tech Meet Silicon Valley’s AI-obsessed mayor
10 snips
Oct 9, 2025 
Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose and former tech entrepreneur, is on a mission to make his city a leader in AI integration for government services. He discusses innovative projects like synchronizing traffic signals to enhance bus routes. Mahan also highlights the balance needed in regulation, praising California's new AI safety law while cautioning against overregulation that stifles innovation. With his sights set on improving local governance, Mahan reflects on the importance of retaining data control amid vendor dependencies in the tech landscape.
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AI To Stretch City Resources
- Matt Mahan argues AI can boost government productivity where budgets and staff are constrained.
- He says adopting new tools lets cities stretch tax dollars and deliver better resident outcomes.
Signal Sync Cut Bus Delays
- San Jose deployed Light AI to sync bus signals and reduced red-light stops by ~50%.
- The system sped bus routes by over 20% without notably impacting cross traffic.
Permitting Is Hard To Automate
- Mahan notes off-the-shelf AI fits some city uses but complex systems like permitting need heavy customization.
- He warns many municipal processes have nuanced rules and will take longer to automate.