San Jose housing advocates say corporate property owners are taking advantage of the latest artificial intelligence tech to drive up rent prices — and renters are feeling the financial pain. Councilmember Peter Ortiz has proposed a policy to restrict the sale and use of “algorithmic devices” to set rents or manage home occupancy levels in the city....
Post
AI companies see San Jose as a place for growth
Artificial intelligence lives and breathes thanks to tech innovators of the 1980s and 90s who saw Silicon Valley as the landscape to develop the more than trillion-dollar computer industry. Though AI only recently entered the public vocabulary — with the search term peaking in popularity just last month since Google began tracking the data in 2004...
Silicon Valley tech giants cut back diversity efforts
With a consequential presidential election less than 100 days away and the Supreme Court gutting affirmative action, Silicon Valley tech giants are reeling in diversity programs and practices meant to uplift people of color. Bay Area companies like Google, Meta and Zoom reportedly laid off workers focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies. Cost cutting...
Post
San Jose uses AI to streamline government
San Jose is a beehive of artificial intelligence innovation, with the city continuing its integration of the technology into every day services to improve the lives of residents. Now that AI is more accessible than ever, Mayor Matt Mahan along with other city officials are using it to identify problems and strategize solutions. San Jose is already using AI to...
State bill threatens landline services in Santa Clara County
After public outcry across the Bay Area, state regulators this week barred AT&T from pulling out of a crucial lifeline for hard-to-reach residents in remote pockets of Santa Clara County: basic landline services. But on the eve of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Thursday decision, a state law proposal about horse racing was gutted and...
Post
San Jose Xfinity stores first to offer deaf customers ASL services
Xfinity is rolling out a new service in San Jose to increase accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Xfinity, the national internet service provider for parent company Comcast, launched its in-store American Sign Language (ASL) translation services to the public this week. Xfinity will be the first in the country to...
Post
San Jose spearheads nationwide AI safety group
While San Jose is getting cozy with artificial intelligence, the city is preparing safety nets for its own partnerships. The city published a set of employee guidelines on AI last July. Now, it’s nearly done with an AI policy with requirements for companies that work with San Jose. This policy was created in tandem with...
San Jose officials question feasibility, cost of airport connector
A decision is near on whether to proceed with a futuristic transit system between San Jose’s airport and train station downtown, five years after officials started soliciting partners to build it. San Jose transportation officials told the city’s Transportation and Environmental Committee Monday they are still determining whether an autonomous transit connector of electric vehicles...
Santa Clara County struggles to improve internet in underserved areas
County officials want to provide broadband internet service in underserved neighborhoods, contrary to a long-awaited report that dismisses the idea. The digital equity study, which they commissioned two years ago, warned the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors against the steep cost of building an underground fiber network and instead suggested partnering with the private...
Post
San Jose turns to AI for language translation
San Jose is expanding its language translation options in public meetings by using artificial intelligence. The city launched its partnership with Wordly, an AI-based service that offers live translation in 50 languages. Translation will be available at all San Jose City Council and council committee meetings. City officials say it’s more affordable and efficient than...