Meet Silicon Valley’s AI-obsessed mayor

Meet Silicon Valley’s AI-obsessed mayor

From POLITICO Tech by POLITICO

October 9, 2025 · 25 min

About this episode

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan discusses his efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into city operations and the implications of California's new AI safety law.

A growing number of city governments are adopting artificial intelligence — and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan wants to outpace all the rest. The former tech entrepreneur is pushing employees across Silicon Valley’s largest city to adopt the technology as a way of streamlining everything from bus routes to business permits. On POLITICO Tech, Mahan joins host Steven Overly to discuss the AI-enabled city he’s trying to build, as well as California’s new AI safety law, the risk of overregulating technology and his recent criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Steven Overly

Guest: Matt Mahan

Topics covered

  • artificial intelligence
  • city government
  • technology adoption
  • public policy
  • transportation
  • business permits

Keywords

  • AI
  • San Jose
  • Matt Mahan
  • technology
  • public policy
  • Gavin Newsom
  • California
  • city government

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: California, POLITICO

Places: San Jose, Silicon Valley

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