AI and Data Centers
The AI industry and data-center siting.
39 stories · 2 meeting summaries · Aug 24, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026
Stories
Friday, November 6, 20261 story →
Like everyone in SF, AI data centers struggle to find a place to live
Technology companies building data centers for AI are running into the same problem as San Francisco renters: nowhere to put them. The search for new sites follows voter pushback on AI projects and a stock market selloff.
Wednesday, October 28, 20261 story →
Anthropic's IPO could add pressure to San Francisco's housing market
Anthropic filed for an initial public offering on Oct. 26, and World Journal reports the listing is expected to send a large flow of money into San Francisco's economy. The paper says the new wealth could worsen pressure on a housing market that is already highly competitive.
Tuesday, October 27, 20261 story →
Anthropic files for IPO, setting the stage for a wave of new wealth in SF
Anthropic filed for an initial public offering, a step the Standard says sets up a new wave of wealth in San Francisco. The filing discloses large losses, major risks and how much control the founders will keep.
Monday, October 26, 20261 story →
Ex-Manny Yekutiel spokesman now works at Anthropic, another S.F. political staffer at an AI giant
A former spokesman for supervisor candidate Manny Yekutiel now works at Anthropic, Mission Local reports. The outlet names other San Francisco political staffers who have moved to Anthropic and OpenAI, including a former assistant district attorney.
Sunday, October 25, 20261 story →
What was behind the OpenAI firings? Safety groups, Signal chats, and a leak investigation
Two safety researchers fired from OpenAI say in media appearances that a leak investigation and disappearing texts led to their dismissals, the Standard reports. The account centers on safety teams and Signal chats.
Wednesday, October 21, 20263 stories →
Meet the District 6 candidates: As AI booms, how should S.F. confront rising rents?
Mission Local asked the District 6 supervisor candidates how they would handle rising rents, displacement and housing production as AI companies expand in the district. The candidates offered differing approaches.
San Francisco Judge Denies Bail to Engineer Accused of Bugging OpenAI HQ
Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse ordered Abdulrahman Alfozan detained without bail, finding a flight risk, according to CNBC. Tse questioned an offer by the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles to back the full bond. Alfozan's lawyer, William Pernik, said he would keep fighting for release.
‘Freeze AI Now’: Bay Area Activists Rally Outside OpenAI Headquarters
About two dozen protesters rallied outside OpenAI's office in Mission Bay as part of a nationwide walkout organized by the nonprofit Irreplaceable, which wants a pause on AI development so Congress can set rules. They joined demonstrations in 50 US cities and on college campuses.
Tuesday, October 20, 20263 stories →
Predictably, Someone Wants to Turn Part of SF’s Downtown Mall Into an AI Data Center
A Maryland company asked the Department of Building Inspection in June about permits for an AI data center in the former Bloomingdale's space at 845 Market Street, the Chronicle reports. No application has been filed for the 350,000-square-foot site. KG Growth Partners CEO Jared Krieger told the paper the plan would keep the ground floor open to the public and put technical operations upstairs and in back-of-house space.
Accused OpenAI spy had ties to Saudi royal, prosecutors say
Federal prosecutors say the OpenAI engineer accused of hiding a recorder in an executive conference room has ties to a Saudi royal and that his family has left the country, the Standard reports. His defense says he has a pending citizenship interview and every reason to stay.
San Francisco Artists Fight AI Ad Blitz With Profane Guerrilla Posters
A parody punk band called Civic Joy Fucks and the collective Upcycled Brigade put up hand-painted posters mocking San Francisco's AI billboard campaigns, SFist reports. One poster tells workers they should expect to end up on the street once an AI employee replaces them.
Sunday, October 18, 20261 story →
AI-generated images of fake ICE raids go viral, terrifying immigrant communities
Highly realistic AI-generated images of fake immigration raids are spreading on private messaging platforms in the Bay Area. Immigrant communities are frightened by the images, which circulate during what the story calls "Operation Safe California."
Saturday, October 17, 20261 story →
Lurie signs data center moratorium, pausing new development
Mayor Daniel Lurie signed the 45-day moratorium on new data centers and on expansion of existing ones, putting it into effect while city officials study the facilities' impacts. The Board of Supervisors passed the emergency ordinance Oct. 6.
Wednesday, October 14, 20264 stories →
Scott Wiener, Connie Chan spar over AI at debate — and then make nice
State Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan argued over artificial intelligence at a debate, then made up afterward, according to Mission Local. Artificial intelligence has again become a central issue in the contest over who will next represent San Francisco in Congress.
AI group pours millions into race for Pelosi’s seat. Its pick: Scott Wiener
Anthropic-linked Public First Action donated $3 million to a PAC supporting state Sen. Scott Wiener's campaign for the congressional seat Nancy Pelosi is vacating. It is one of the largest contributions from an outside group in the race.
OpenAI engineer arrested in bugging of executive conference room
Federal prosecutors say an OpenAI employee from Saudi Arabia planted an audio recorder in an executive conference room and left another recorder unattended in his bag. The engineer was arrested.
Too Many Bots in the Kitchen? Williams Sonoma Bans AI Shoppers
San Francisco-based Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn updated their terms of service this week to bar customer AI agents from shopping on their sites without written permission from the company. The terms apply to all brands under Williams-Sonoma Inc., require automated tools to identify themselves, and make customers responsible for activity on their accounts.
Friday, October 9, 20261 story →
San Francisco halts approval of new data centers for 45 days
The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an emergency ordinance on Oct. 6 pausing approvals for new data centers and expansion of existing ones for 45 days, making San Francisco the first Bay Area city to do so. Supervisor Shamann Walton, who introduced the measure, said the city needs more time to study how data centers affect electricity, water and nearby neighborhoods before writing long-term rules.
Thursday, October 8, 20261 story →
San Francisco and Oakland Pass 45-Day Moratoriums on New Data Centers
According to Mission Local, San Francisco and Oakland became the first Bay Area cities to pass 45-day moratoriums on new data centers. San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to halt new development and expansion while the Planning Department studies environmental effects.
Wednesday, October 7, 20262 stories →
San Francisco supervisors pass 45-day data-center moratorium
San Francisco supervisors passed a 45-day moratorium on new data centers. The freeze pauses the expansion of several centers in the city and could be extended or made permanent.
Landlord moves to evict this AI unicorn to clear space for Anthropic
A landlord has moved to evict the AI startup Physical Intelligence from its Mission District office to make room for Anthropic, according to a lawsuit. The suit alleges the company overstayed its lease and expanded into unleased areas, which it improved without consent.
Sunday, October 4, 20261 story →
AI was the hot new topic at San Francisco’s first congressional debate
Supervisor Connie Chan and state Sen. Scott Wiener argued over artificial intelligence regulation at their first congressional debate Thursday night. The two Democrats, running to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi, also answered questions about Israel.
Saturday, October 3, 20261 story →
San Francisco Congressional Hopefuls Debate AI, Billionaires and, of Course, Housing
State Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan met Thursday night in a debate at KQED in their race for the House seat Nancy Pelosi is leaving. Wiener said self-regulation does not work and pointed to his state AI safety bill. Both candidates support regulating AI but differ on how to do it.
Thursday, October 1, 20261 story →
This SF Renter Is Trying to Beat the AI-Fueled Housing Boom With an Analog Approach
Harlow Srain, a 28-year-old San Francisco renter, has contacted more than 200 landlords and property managers in nine months as she tries to stay in the city. She lives in Bernal Heights with an ex-partner and says rents have risen more than 25% over the past year. She is cold-calling landlords to ask for lower rent.
Wednesday, September 30, 20261 story →
This SF Renter Is Trying to Beat the AI-Fueled Housing Boom With an Analog Approach
Harlow Srain, a 28-year-old renter in Bernal Heights, has contacted more than 200 landlords and property managers in nine months to find an apartment she can afford. She says rents have risen more than 25 percent over the past year, driven by the AI boom, and she is cold-calling landlords to ask for lower rents.
Wednesday, September 23, 20261 story →
The AI capital of the world doesn’t know how many data centers it has
San Francisco has at least six data centers, and the Planning Department does not track them, according to the Standard. The city has no official count of the facilities.
Tuesday, September 22, 20262 stories →
Scott Wiener and Connie Chan both want to rein in AI. They disagree on how to do that.
State Sen. Scott Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan, both running for Congress, want California to regulate artificial intelligence but disagree on how to do it, Mission Local reports. Canvassers for the campaigns say they are learning how to answer voters' questions about AI at the door.
East Bay real estate firm plans data center in San Francisco
Nestory Park Capital, a real estate firm founded in El Sobrante in 2024, met with Mayor Daniel Lurie's housing and economic development director, Ned Segal, about permits for a data center at 1215 Michigan St., the Chronicle reports. The 4-acre parcel in Dogpatch is one of the largest privately held industrial sites left on the city's waterfront. The talks come as city officials consider a pause on approvals for data center projects.
Saturday, September 19, 20261 story →
Protesters outside Dreamforce call for slower AI development
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in San Francisco on Thursday during the Dreamforce conference to call on technology companies to slow AI development and strengthen safety oversight, World Journal reports. The group protested outside the OpenAI and Anthropic offices and then marched to City Hall.
Saturday, September 12, 20261 story →
SF Supervisor Plans Moratorium on New Data Centers, With Permanent Ban to Follow
District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton plans to introduce a 45-day moratorium on new data center construction as a first step toward a permanent citywide ban, as the Chronicle reports. Walton's district, which includes Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Portola and Dogpatch, has two active data centers, one of which is planning a large expansion. According to Mission Local, the Board of Supervisors could extend the pause for up to 22 months and 15 days if the Planning Commission finds existing data centers threaten residents.
Friday, September 11, 20261 story →
Amid rising fear over data centers, an S.F. supervisor quietly plans a moratorium
Supervisor Shamann Walton, who represents District 10, plans to introduce a 45-day moratorium on new data centers on Sept. 15. The proposal comes amid public concern over data centers in the city.
Thursday, September 10, 20261 story →
Steph Curry planned to open a Dogpatch HQ. Now he’s selling the site to AI startup Corgi
Steph Curry has sold the Dogpatch property at 600 20th Street to AI startup Corgi after dropping plans to build an office headquarters there for his company Thirty Ink. According to SFist, Curry bought the site for $8.5 million in 2024 and sold it for $11 million this week. The Standard reports the sale closes a chapter that included a labor dispute over the project.
Sunday, September 6, 20261 story →
Healthcare workers and patients rally against AI replacing medical staff
Health care workers, patient advocates and patients rallied outside Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco to oppose the use of AI and chat bots in place of human caregivers. The group cited concerns about patient safety, privacy and jobs, and called for human-provided care.
Friday, September 4, 20262 stories →
AI hiring boom turns San Francisco rentals into bidding wars
The San Francisco Chronicle, citing Apartment List, reports that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco reached $4,257, the highest in the nation. Limited supply and AI industry hiring have turned ordinary apartment viewings into bidding wars.
SoMa is San Francisco’s rise and fall, all at once
SoMa's recovery is fractured, with an AI boom on one side and lingering pandemic-era problems on the other. The feature looks at the neighborhood's uneven revival.
Tuesday, September 1, 20261 story →
Anthropic employees are pouring cash into an unexpected political race
Employees of Anthropic, the San Francisco AI company, are contributing to an Alaska Democratic candidate who wants to regulate the AI industry, according to The San Francisco Standard. The article looks at why the race has attracted their support.
Monday, August 31, 20261 story →
AI is having a ‘bonkers,’ complicated impact on SF, city experts say
San Francisco's chief economist says AI has not yet boosted job growth in the city, but it is driving up rents and office demand. The comments came during a discussion of AI's effect on San Francisco.
Tuesday, August 25, 20261 story →
Meet the S.F. congressional candidates: Do you support a data center moratorium?
Congressional candidates Wiener and Chan explain their stances on data centers and keeping U.S. AI labs competitive. The Q&A is part of Mission Local's coverage of the congressional race.
Monday, August 24, 20261 story →
AI robotics companies love San Francisco. They’re just too big to stay
San Francisco remains the center of the AI robotics boom, but companies say they cannot find enough space to scale, according to The Standard. The report says the city is still ground zero for the industry even as machine companies outgrow it.