Boston Mayor Michelle Wu met with dozens of regional business leaders Wednesday at Harvard University’s Allston campus to get advice on how to make Boston a more competitive leader in the technology sector.
City leaders have talked a lot about AI and what Boston can do to compete with Silicon Valley. California’s tech hub rivals Boston in building and attracting companies and has emerged as a world leader in artificial intelligence.
Wu spoke on the record at the event, but reporters were allowed to attend on the condition that they not quote other participants.
Among those in attendance were representatives from the financial services, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Attendees included Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, Jellyfish CEO Andrew Lau, Whoop CEO Ed Baker, and YCombinator’s Ankit Gupta. and Yvonne Hao of Flagship Pioneering.
The mayor said he brought up the idea of a bicoastal summit with the city of San Francisco and pitched the idea to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
“If they’re passionate about all things AI, [and] “We’re focused on healthcare, life sciences, and bio, and the overlap in where all of that really applies can be a focus for us spending time on both coasts. And we need your help to think through what that experience will be and how it can actually be productive and beneficial to the companies that are looking to hire to be located on both coasts,” she said.
It was a strategic meeting for the mayor, who has been criticized for having weaker relationships with business leaders than his predecessor. The event also had many collaborators, from Cambridge City Manager Ian Huang to Social Finance CEO Tracy Parandjian.
Several people in the audience called for greater use of AI within city government. Some politely asked how well Boston was doing for 23- to 28-year-olds who had just graduated from college. They called for improvements to nightlife, culture, housing, internships and mentorship to prevent entrepreneurs from fleeing to Silicon Valley.
Wu is helping the city work to improve its culture and nightlife, including launching pop-up installations, helping more restaurants obtain liquor licenses, and making Boston a summer destination with events like tall ships and the FIFA World Cup.
“But I think it’s really difficult to find a way to corral that information and get it out to people,” she says.
Wu asked those in attendance to help find the city’s next head of economic opportunity and inclusion, and offered to join the conversation at City Hall and with large businesses and startups.
She also used the opportunity to make a pitch she often says about Boston.
“Quality of life, safety, education,” she boasted of what the city offers. “This is a city of champions.”
