The Silicon Valley city is already a burgeoning AI hub. Mayor Matt Mahan wants to do more to retain local talent, and become a leader on integrating the technology into government.
Takeaways
- Nearly 150 stoplights in San Jose, California, are equipped with an artificial intelligence tool aimed at optimizing bus trips, allowing buses to run at higher speeds and reducing commute times for riders by 20%.
- San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan sees the signal priority technology as one of San Jose’s most successful AI implementation efforts to date, and the city is trying to vastly expand its use of the technology in city hall and across government.
- San Jose is the founding member of the GovAI Coalition, which includes hundreds of government entities across the US that share information about AI-related projects, and the city has offered up to $50,000 in incentives for early-stage AI startups that relocated there.
Nearly 150 stoplights in San Jose, California, are equipped with an artificial intelligence tool aimed at optimizing bus trips. The tech has allowed the buses to run at higher speeds and reduced commute times for riders by 20%, in part by making it more likely buses will reach a green traffic light.
Bloomberg CityLab
By Fola Akinnibi
July 18, 2025