She moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco for an AI job. The biggest difference wasn't the technology
A journalist who left Los Angeles to join an AI startup in San Francisco says the move completely changed the way she looks at work and technology. Erika Lee said moving to the Bay Area gave her a close view of the fast-growing AI industry and a culture focused on building products rather than personal image.According to an account published by Business Insider, Lee said she accepted a job at AI insurance startup Corgi after receiving an unexpected direct message on X from the company’s chief of staff.Lee said she had spent years building her journalism career after growing up and studying in the Los Angeles area. She had worked in local news before covering the cryptocurrency industry.She said she first heard about Corgi when its chief of staff contacted her in February about a job opportunity. Although she was unfamiliar with the company, she had noticed many people in the crypto industry moving into AI and decided to explore the opportunity. After visiting the team in San Francisco, Lee joined Corgi as Head of Brand in March.
Different work cultures
Lee said moving from Los Angeles to San Francisco felt like entering a completely different value system.She wrote that many people in San Francisco believe AI is transforming the city and are willing to relocate in the hope of helping build the next major AI company.According to Lee, conversations in Los Angeles often revolved around social circles and online presence. In San Francisco, however, people are more interested in what someone is building, their ideas and the products they are working on.“Nobody seems particularly interested in whether you’re fashionable, attractive, or influential online. The currency is ideas, fundraising, and products.”She said neither city is better than the other, but they prioritise different things. For now, she feels more productive and motivated in San Francisco.
Skills matter
Lee admitted that she initially thought she would be the least technical person in the room after joining an AI company.However, she later realised that her journalism background was valuable because companies increasingly need people who can explain complex technology, shape narratives and communicate ideas clearly.She said her experience as a journalist helps her identify important information, write clearly and build Corgi’s brand.“Changing industries doesn’t always mean leaving behind the skills you love most. Sometimes, it means finding a new way to use them,” Lee wrote.
Embracing change
Despite enjoying her new role, Lee said she still misses Los Angeles, including being close to her family, familiar neighbourhoods and spending time with friends.At the same time, she said moving to San Francisco pushed her outside her comfort zone and allowed her to experience what many believe is one of the biggest technological shifts of the current generation.Lee said she does not know how history will judge the AI boom, but she is glad to witness it from inside the industry instead of reporting on it from the outside.She added that despite the uncertainty, long working hours and emotional challenges of leaving Los Angeles, she is grateful she accepted the unexpected message on X that changed the course of her career.
