A writer who moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco for an AI startup role found a starkly different environment focused on building and ideas, rather than social connections. Her journalism background proved unexpectedly valuable in the tech industry.
The narrative highlights the evolving value of humanities skills, particularly storytelling, in the rapidly advancing AI industry, suggesting that humanistic expertise is becoming more critical, not less, in a technology-driven future.
Erika Lee, formerly a journalist in Los Angeles, relocated to San Francisco to join the AI startup Corgi as its Head of Brand. The move, prompted by a direct message on X, marked a significant shift in her environment and career focus. Lee describes San Francisco as a place with an intense belief in AI's transformative potential, where conversations revolve around building and innovation rather than social status or online curation, contrasting it with her experiences in Los Angeles.
She initially worried her journalism background might be a disadvantage in the tech-centric Silicon Valley. However, Lee found that storytelling and the ability to synthesize ideas and explain complex topics clearly are increasingly valuable in the AI era. She points to companies like OpenAI, Rippling, and Notion hiring for storytelling roles as evidence of this trend.
While Lee misses aspects of her life in Los Angeles, including proximity to family and familiar social settings, she values the personal growth and motivation she has found in San Francisco. She feels fortunate to be immersed in what she perceives as a consequential technological shift, willing to make the emotional trade-offs for the experience.