Photo from sf.gov
San Francisco, once defined by post-pandemic uncertainty and economic stagnation, is undergoing a striking transformation—driven by the rise of artificial intelligence. At the forefront of this shift is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who declared at the 2025 GPU Technology Conference that AI is not only transforming industries but has also “revived” San Francisco’s tech landscape.
“San Francisco is back,” Huang said, introducing Nvidia’s new Blackwell Ultra chips, designed to support the next generation of AI models across medicine, robotics, and advanced computing. He described the change as “an industrial revolution,” fueled by renewed interest, talent, and infrastructure centered on AI development.
Since late 2022, AI companies have leased more than 1.7 million square feet of office space across the city. The total AI office footprint now exceeds 4.3 million square feet, helping to stabilize a commercial real estate market that saw record-high vacancy rates just two years ago.
Major developments include:
- OpenAI signing a 500,000-square-foot lease at Uber’s former headquarters in Mission Bay—San Francisco’s largest lease since 2018.
- Hive AI expanding to 57,000 square feet in the South Financial District.
- Emerging players such as Anthropic, Imbue, and Scale AI establishing offices in SoMa, Inner Mission, and Mission Bay, areas now informally known as “Area AI.”
CBRE projects that AI companies could occupy up to 12 million square feet of commercial space by 2030, contributing to the city’s long-term economic redefinition.
Tech Growth Amid Complex Challenges
While the AI boom is bringing investment, talent, and jobs back to San Francisco, many of the city’s deeper challenges remain.
Homelessness continues to be a visible and politically charged issue. As of the latest city count, more than 7,000 individuals remain unhoused in San Francisco, with hundreds living in tent encampments not far from emerging AI campuses. Critics have warned that revitalization must not come at the expense of displacement or social neglect.
Mayor London Breed has acknowledged the complexity of these overlapping realities. In a 2024 San Francisco Chronicle interview, she said: “We’re having so many openings. We’re having so many new opportunities that have allowed for people to experience downtown differently. It’s starting to come alive.” However, she also emphasized that public safety and housing remain top priorities as the city moves forward.
Nvidia’s Expanding Role in AI
Nvidia remains central to the AI revolution. Its GPU technology powers nearly every large-scale machine learning system in use today—from cloud computing to autonomous systems. The new Blackwell Ultra chip is expected to accelerate applications in medical diagnostics, logistics, creative tools, and natural language models.
“The AI era is here, and we’re just beginning to see its impact,” Huang said during his GTC address, which drew global attention from tech leaders, policymakers, and researchers.
Building an Inclusive Future
Efforts are underway to ensure that AI-driven growth is matched by inclusive access to opportunity. The San Francisco Digital Equity initiative offers free and low-cost broadband access and digital training for underserved residents. Meanwhile, San Francisco State University has launched an AI Literacy Education Program to prepare students and educators for participation in the evolving tech economy.
These programs are intended to help bridge the gap between innovation and equity—particularly for immigrant, working-class, and minority communities across the Bay Area, including the large Filipino American population that has long contributed to San Francisco’s workforce and civic life.
San Francisco’s Next Act
San Francisco’s future is being reshaped by AI—but its identity will depend on how innovation, inclusion, and integrity are balanced. From bustling tech corridors to ongoing housing crises, the city stands at a crossroads.
As the AI boom continues to unfold, so does the need for a long-term vision that centers not only growth, but responsibility.
In the words of Nvidia’s Jensen Huang:
“This is not just a moment—it’s a movement.”
