The appointment marks a growing trend of tech executives taking roles in city government.
“I’m excited to help the city I love, and where OpenAI was started,” said Altman in an official statement.
The recent election saw other tech industry figures enter city politics — including WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum backing Lurie’s campaign, and former software entrepreneurs Bilal Mahmood and Danny Sauter winning seats on the board of supervisors.
“Democrats have been too focused on ideological battles rather than quality-of-life issues,” said Mahmood in an interview with Reuters. As a former business executive, he emphasized the value of prioritization and metrics-driven governance.
Lurie, heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, will take office January 8, succeeding London Breed — San Francisco’s first Black female mayor. He faces immediate challenges including public safety concerns that have prompted some tech companies to leave the area.
The appointments reflect Silicon Valley’s increasing involvement in local politics, as San Francisco grapples with post-pandemic recovery and urban management issues.
This shift could signal closer collaboration between the tech industry and city government on infrastructure and service delivery improvements.
