Using AI for Social Good in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city of contrasts. It’s home to some of the most innovative and influential technology companies in the world, but also to some of the most persistent and complex social and urban challenges. From housing affordability and homelessness to transportation and public health, the city faces many issues that require creative new approaches and solutions.

Accelerate SF: The New Initiative

A group of former tech employees launched Accelerate SF, a new initiative aimed at leveraging AI to address San Francisco’s major public sector challenges. The initiative is hosting a hackathon to develop AI projects focused on these challenges.

Anthony Jancso, Jordan Wick, and Kay Sorin, having worked at leading tech companies such as Palantir, Waymo, and YouTube, founded Accelerate SF. The team is collaborating with the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and other stakeholders to identify and tackle real public sector problems.

Innovative Approach to AI in Public Sector

Accelerate SF is one of the first initiatives by a major American city to incorporate AI into the public sector. It focuses on large language models (LLMs), which excel at organizing and analyzing complex data.

Jancso and Wick, both engineers, along with Sorin, a marketing and events professional, have extensive experience with government organizations. They aim to fill a gap by applying AI where it can have substantial social impact.

Examples of Potential AI Applications

• An open book website using natural language models to answer questions about government spending.
• A simplified car break-in report form creating narratives based on user input.
• A permit approval application that checks for errors and provides user feedback.

Event and Support

The hackathon will feature speakers and judges from both tech and civic sectors. Notable figures like California State Sen. Scott Wiener and entrepreneur Kim Polese will share insights on AI’s potential for social good.

Supported by sponsors such as Scale AI and OpenAI, Accelerate SF is set to bring together talented engineers for this innovative event. Interested participants can sign up on the Accelerate SF website or follow them on social media for updates.