San Francisco mayor: ‘We should be the testbed for emerging tech’

Waymo and Jux robotaxis are regularly seen on the streets of San Francisco, and Uber soonThrough a partnership with Lucid and Nuro, will also descend on the city. That’s exactly how San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie feels.

“I think we should be examining emerging technology and AI and healthcare technology — and all of that,” Lurie said Wednesday on the TechCrunch Disrupt main stage. “We have always been and under my leadership, we will continue to lead and lean.”

Lurie added that he is proud of the success that Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle technology company, has had in the Bay Area. And, he said “we welcome others.”

Lurie was quick to say that safety comes first, adding that autonomous vehicles are regulated at the state level. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles regulates the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. But companies that want to offer and charge for robotaxi rides must get a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.

While Lurie is opening its arms to autonomous vehicles, other cities are more resistant. For example, the city of Boston has considered a ban on autonomous vehicles.

“Waymo has proven it’s a safe ride,” he said, noting that the robotaxis have attracted tourists who flock to the city to ride the driverless vehicles. “We’re hoping to get it up and running at the airport very soon, and bring people here to the city.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some resistance. For example, the Teamsters union lobbied for restrictions on self-driving trucks to protect jobs.

Lurie, meanwhile, took a bullish view on technology and the money and jobs it could bring to the city.

“We believe in the future,” he said. “The future always starts in San Francisco and we’re going to lean into it.”