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San Francisco’s Edge In The AI Race: The Role Of Education And Inclusivity

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San Francisco’s Edge In The AI Race: The Role Of Education And Inclusivity


San Francisco, with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and vibrant tech scene, is poised to continue its dominance in the AI race, thanks in part to its well-educated youth. At the heart of this success is Palo Alto, a city within the San Francisco Bay Area, where schools are among the wealthiest in the United States and the world.

The Wealth of Palo Alto Schools

The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) benefits from high property taxes and significant contributions from parents and the community. The Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) foundation, for example, raises millions of dollars annually to support programs and staff positions in PAUSD schools. These schools are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, sports facilities, and technology resources.

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The Global Context

When compared to other areas, both within the United States and globally, the disparity is stark. Many school districts struggle with underfunding, aging infrastructure, and limited access to technology. In developing countries, schools often face challenges such as overcrowding and lack of basic amenities. This contrast highlights the global issue of educational inequality, where access to quality education is closely tied to economic status.

The Impact of Wealth on Education

The wealth of Palo Alto schools contributes to high academic performance, with students often achieving top scores on standardized tests and gaining admission to prestigious universities. However, this wealth also underscores the opportunity gap that exists on a global scale.

The Digital Divide

Access to technology is a critical component of modern education. Yet, according to UNICEF, approximately 463 million children globally were unable to access remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a lack of resources, including computers. In low- and middle-income countries, only 67% of the population owns a mobile phone, and a significant portion of the world’s 2 billion children might not have access to a mobile device or the internet!

San Francisco’s AI Ecosystem

The San Francisco Bay Area is a leading hub for AI and technology, home to major companies like OpenAI, Google, Apple, and Facebook. This ecosystem is supported by a strong technological infrastructure, research institutions, and investment capital. Other key global AI hubs include Boston, New York City, Toronto, London, Beijing, Shenzhen, Bangalore, Berlin, and Tel Aviv.

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Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, recently praised Bay Area (San Francisco) as the world’s “Number One A.I. city,” highlighting its growing AI scene and the presence of innovative startups. Despite previous concerns about the city’s homelessness and drug use, Benioff’s comments during Salesforce’s quarterly earnings call underscore the city’s potential as a tech hub. This sentiment is echoed by other tech leaders and entrepreneurs who are drawn to San Francisco’s unique intellectual community and the advantages it offers for startup success. The city’s reputation as a prime location for AI innovation continues to attract attention and investment from the tech industry​.

San Francisco’s continued success in the AI race is not just a result of its technological prowess but also its commitment to education and inclusivity. In the ever-evolving landscape of AI, education and inclusivity will be key drivers of sustainable growth and innovation.

Other cities can learn several valuable lessons from Palo Alto and the broader Bay Area to foster a thriving tech ecosystem:

Invest in Education: Palo Alto’s success is partly due to its focus on high-quality education. Other cities can prioritize investing in schools, universities, and research institutions to cultivate a skilled workforce and attract top talent.

Encourage Innovation: The Bay Area is known for its innovative culture, driven by a willingness to take risks and support for entrepreneurship. Cities can create environments that encourage innovation through policies, funding, and resources for startups and research.

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Foster Collaboration: Collaboration between academia, industry, and government has been key to the Bay Area’s success. Other cities can foster partnerships that leverage the strengths of each sector to drive technological advancements.

Support Diversity and Inclusion: The Bay Area’s diverse population contributes to its dynamic and creative environment. Cities can focus on inclusivity in their tech ecosystems to ensure a range of perspectives and ideas are represented.

Invest in Infrastructure: The success of tech hubs like Palo Alto relies on strong infrastructure, including transportation, connectivity, and access to resources. Cities can invest in infrastructure to support the growth of their tech industries.

Create a Supportive Regulatory Environment: The Bay Area benefits from a regulatory environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. Other cities can examine their policies and regulations to ensure they are conducive to the growth of tech businesses.

Attract and Retain Talent: The Bay Area’s ability to attract and retain top talent is crucial to its success. Cities can focus on creating attractive living and working conditions, competitive salaries, and opportunities for career growth to retain skilled workers.

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By adopting these strategies and this mindset other cities can create ecosystems that support the growth of technology industries. But it does require a coordinated effort from government, industry, academia, and the community to create a supportive ecosystem for technology and innovation.

Towns looking to foster innovation and entrepreneurship a la Palo Alto can actually learn from the success of Startup Chile, a government-supported accelerator program.

By offering equity-free funding and visas, Startup Chile has attracted global entrepreneurs, demonstrating the importance of government support and international appeal.

The program emphasizes community building through networking events and educational resources, helping to develop a vibrant startup ecosystem. Additionally, Startup Chile’s focus on diversifying the types of startups has contributed to economic resilience. Public-private partnerships and visionary leaders have been key to the program’s success, showing the value of collaboration between sectors.

Finally, Startup Chile’s commitment to measuring its impact provides valuable data for continuous improvement.

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By adopting these strategies, towns can create a conducive environment for startups, drive economic growth, and enhance their reputation and quality of life for all. Achieving this transformation requires leadership, vision, boldness, and a genuine passion for technology.



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Live Updates: San Francisco Primary Election 2026

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Live Updates: San Francisco Primary Election 2026


Welcome to our running tally of Election Night results. Or, as this is California, well beyond tonight, as results continue to trickle in.

The first batch of results should arrive at 8:45 p.m., with three more to follow tonight. The Department of Elections has the breakdown.

San Francisco is voting in three special elections, for District 2 and District 4 supervisors and for a Board of Education member. Both supervisor races are referendums on housing, especially District 2, while the main backdrop of the D4 race is all the hot feelings around the fate of the Sunset Dunes Park (nee Great Highway).

The winners of all three special races will have to compete again in November for their seats.

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Keeping it local, SF is also voting on four ballot measures. Prop A is for a bond to pay for an emergency water-system. B is for term limits. C and D are dueling measures related to the “overpaid CEO” tax. (Links go to our reporting on each race or issue; or click here for our Election 2026 page.)

Vote local, think national: Which two candidates will advance to the November election to replace Nancy Pelosi?

Statewide races include the primaries for governor, education superintendent, lieutenant governor, and much more.

Polls close soon. If you haven’t voted yet, find your polling station here.

Tuesday, June 2, 5:40 p.m.

Two and a half hours until our polls close. Before we go down the local rabbit hole, a reminder that other states have primary action today: New Jersey, Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Montana.

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Why does it take so long to get results in California? CalMatters has you covered on that story. We shouldn’t expect a call tonight on the governor’s race.

The last big election was November 5, 2024. (Remember?) Ten days later, there were still races to call in San Francisco.


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So if you’re waiting for the pundits (and maybe even us) to tell you What It All Means, you might have to wait a while.



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San Francisco voters to decide on dueling measures on Top Executive Pay Tax changes

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San Francisco voters to decide on dueling measures on Top Executive Pay Tax changes


San Francisco voters weighed in Tuesday on two competing measures that seek to change the Top Executive Pay Tax, with one of the measures also including a change to the Gross Receipts Tax.

Should both measures pass, the one with the most votes will take effect, according to the propositions’ legal text.

Currently, the measures state that most businesses with San Francisco gross receipts up to $5 million are exempt from the Gross Receipts Tax. And businesses that use more than half of their city payroll for in-house administrative and management services pay an Administrative Office Tax instead of a Gross Receipts Tax.

The Top Executive Pay Tax is a tax some large businesses pay if their highest-paid managerial employee earns more than 100 times the median pay of their San Francisco employees. Businesses that have city gross receipts up to $5 million and are not subject to the Administrative Office Tax are exempt.

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Proposition C

Proposition C states it would increase the number of businesses that could be exempt from the Gross Receipts Tax and would stop any further increases to the “Top Executive Pay Tax” after a final rate bump.

The proposed measure says it would raise the Gross Receipts Tax exemption ceiling to $7.5 million. The $7.5 million ceiling would also apply to the Top Executive Pay Tax exemption.

As for changes to the Top Executive Pay Tax, Proposition C states it would implement the 2028 tax rate increase in 2027, but then stop any future increases.

Supporting Proposition C are Rodney Fong, CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Wright, senior vice president of Advance SF, an organization of companies, which includes Bank of America, OpenAI, Waymo, the SF Giants CEO and others.

Fong and Wright, in their argument for the measure, say giving businesses more tax breaks would help keep more employees on payroll and would give companies the ability to “contribute to city services in a predictable and balanced way.”

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Critics of Proposition C, such as the San Francisco Tenants Union, slam the measure as “billionaire-backed” and argue it would kill the Top Executive Pay Tax and would hand out more tax breaks to businesses at a time when the city is in a budget deficit and faces cuts to essential services.

Proposition D

Proposition D also seeks to change the Top Executive Pay Tax, which is collected from some large businesses where the highest-paid managerial employee earns more than 100 times the median compensation paid to other employees.

If approved, the measure would change the calculation of the tax using the compensation of all employees, not just employees based in San Francisco. Top Executive Pay Tax rates would also be increased for San Francisco gross receipts and payroll.

Supporters have billed the measure as a way to counteract federal cuts to Medicaid. A report by the City Controller’s Office said the measure could result in $250 million to $300 million in additional revenue.

“Proposition D is the solution to our budget deficit. It asks large corporations — not small businesses, not working families — to contribute a little more,” supporters said in the city’s official voter guide.

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The measure has the backing of most of the Board of Supervisors, along with labor unions and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Opponents, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and state Sen. Scott Wiener, have argued Proposition D would negatively impact the city’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“San Francisco is already one of the most expensive cities in the country to live and do business. Adding extreme and unpredictable tax increases risks driving employers away just as we are trying to bring jobs, workers, and foot traffic back downtown,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey in the city’s voter guide.



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San Francisco ‘adult supremacy’ workshop brands teachers as oppressors — as fringe trend spreads in California schools

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San Francisco ‘adult supremacy’ workshop brands teachers as oppressors — as fringe trend spreads in California schools


A San Francisco public school reportedly hosted a workshop on “adult supremacy” — a new woke trend labeling teachers and adults “oppressors” that’s quietly gaining traction in California.

The confab, held at John O’Connell High School during an “Ethnic Studies Everywhere” weekend seminar in April, was titled “Youth as Knowledge Producers: Challenging Adult Supremacy Through Ethnic Studies,” according to an attendee who spoke with The Post.

“Due to systemic power dynamics inherently the relationship between students and educators is an oppressive one. Oppressor (educator) & oppressed (student),” a presentation slide explained.

Maria Su, superintendent SFUSD, speaks at a press conference. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

The workshop was led by Jennifer Sanchez, a third-year ethnic studies educator in the Central Valley, and convened by Teachers 4 Social Justice, a nonprofit that aims to create “empowering learning environments, more equitable access to resources and power, and realizing a just and caring culture,” according to its website.

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Teachers 4 Social Justice was founded by local teacher activist Jeremiah Jeffries, who led an unpopular push to rename public schools during the pandemic that was abandoned after sparking outrage from local parents.

So-called adult supremacy “constructs adults as developed, mature, intelligent, and experienced, based solely on their age and ensures that adults control the resources and make the decisions in society,” the presentation further explained.

Success “within the Western context” is “demanding, overwhelming, and dehumanizing,” the presentation claimed.

Jackson Matos’ work is cited in “adultism.” Jackson Matos

Friends of Lowell Foundation, which advocates for academic merit at San Francisco schools, compiled the “adult supremacy” slides.

Another slide obtained by The Post cited the work of academic Jackson Matos, who is mentioned as connecting “adultism” to cultural imperialism, marginalization, exploitation, powerlessness and violence.

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“We have knowledge and life experience, and it is our job as parents and teachers to impart information on the next generation, on our kids,” one flabbergasted San Francisco parent, who asked not to be named, told The Post.

“Given that a large percentage of students in the district do not meet grade level standards in ELA and math, our focus as a school district is clearly way off track,” the parent said.

A presentation slide titled “Adultism Continued” defining adult supremacy and discussing power dynamics between students and educators. SFUSD

Friends of Lowell Foundation has taken legal action surrounding the school district’s controversial “ethnic studies” curriculum, which was made a one-year requirement for high school freshman this year.

The San Francisco teachers’ group isn’t the only organization blaming “adultism” for society’s failures.

Adam Fletcher is a consultant who counts California school boards and agencies among his clients. He’s made “adultism” a centerpiece of equity training aimed at teachers.

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Adam Fletcher has made “adultism” a centerpiece of equity training aimed at teachers. Adam Fletcher

“Adultism, as an idea, is bias towards adults,” Fletcher said in an online seminar held by TEACH Los Angeles, an educators’ network funded through grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, per its YouTube page.

A slide from a presentation on “Adultism” defines it as a bias towards adults. TEACH Los Angeles

Likewise, the Oakland Youth Commission announced last year a training for city employees about adultism, which is blamed for taking power away from kids, according to slides published online.

The Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department sponsored an “anti-oppression training series” that explores how “ageism and adultism” fuel discrimination.

“Participants consider how the myth of independence, rooted in settler colonial capitalism, contributes to the marginalization of youth & elders by diminishing agency, excluding perspectives, & reinforcing stereotypes in behavioral health practice,” an invitation read.

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Three children acting out a scene during a seminar on “adultism.” Instagram/oakyac

San Francisco Unified School District didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The district may be in hot water over its ethnic studies program, with Superintendent Maria Su due to appear at a June 10 congressional hearing about parents’ rights and “inappropriate content” in schools.



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