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Early-stage AI startups are imbuing new life into San Francisco\u2019s Northern Waterfront, after years of \u201cfor lease\u201d signs dotting the post-pandemic landscape. According to the San Francisco Business Times<\/a>, five AI-focused companies \u2014 four backed by Y Combinator \u2014 recently leased 23,900 square feet at the Waterfront Plaza complex. This is part of a citywide trend: AI firms are one of the few sectors expanding in San Francisco, accounting for 1.6 million square feet leased last year and now occupying 5 million total, per the real estate services firm CBRE. (Unsurprisingly, OpenAI accounts for a sizable chunk<\/a> of that overall figure.)<\/p>\n If CBRE\u2019s projections are to be believed, there\u2019s much more to come. It thinks these scrappy startups could reach 21 million in square feet within five years, potentially halving the city\u2019s current 35.8% vacancy rate and creating tens of thousands of jobs. \u201cIt could fundamentally change the vibrancy of downtown,\u201d CBRE analyst Colin Yasukochi tells the outlet.<\/p>\n