Instagram story viewer> @mtclai> Posts

Michael Lai

@mtclai

2K

followers

1905

following

AI for government at Anthropic
By night: SF DCCC, community organizing

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Black tie birthday dinner.

So fun to have friends & fam dress to the nines to celebrate at hole-in-the-wall restaurant @missionchinesesf

Yep, other patrons were confused. Best part: when 2 12 year old kids gave an impromptu bday toast! After, we did ice cream, and dancing at the newly renovated @beautybarsf_

Here’s to another year of committing to the bit, surrounded by love. Blessed to have the most amazing (and good looking!) friends & fam. Thank you all for being in my life.

Inspo for the bday…scroll all the way right for the first black tie dinner at Pakwan in the Mission, 8 years ago! taken in San Francisco, California by @mtclai

148

9

a month ago

I joined Anthropic to lead AI for State & Local Government! aka @claudeai to make government better :)

While running for office in SF last year I met Anthropic president & cofounder Daniela Amodei. In Jan, I shared with her what I learned from 20k+ voters: government feels broken because of implementation NOT policy.

Most govt is state & local, still running on 19th century models with 20th century tech. Responsible AI can help.

By night, I’m still deep in SF politics & community work. Couldn’t be more grateful to work on two important missions: fixing government and responsible AI, while working with amazing ppl with head + heart like Daniela and so many more.

p.s.@claudeai is already a thought partner for me every day (swipe right), now working to empower millions of public servants too :) by @mtclai

185

13

a year ago

SF is incredibly dirty. Here’s my plan for less trash & illegal dumping. Let me know what you think in comments.

#waste #cleansf #sfpolitics #district11 #zerowaste

video credit: @vy.photographer taken in Outer Mission by @mtclai

373

90

2 years ago

I can’t believe you’re gone, DSG. A few days ago, my high school teacher Donna St. George (we called her DSG) lost her battle with cancer. DSG was the teacher who had the most impact on me. She taught me AP European History, and coached Mock Trial.

When I heard of her passing, I was shocked, and devastated. DSG was a passionate, larger-than-life presence, who demanded excellence and hard work. DSG founded the Redlands High School Mock Trial program in 1990 and in 31 years won 16 San Bernardino county championships, the most in the county. She had a profound impact on many students at Redlands High School, including me.

In middle school, I was a scrawny kid whose hands shook from public speaking. Mock Trial changed that for me. DSG had us put pencils in our mouths to teach us to enunciate and loudly project “there’s NO business like SHOW business.” She taught history with gusto — I remember once she opened a closet with US and Nazi uniforms to make the horrors of World War II more vivid. My senior year of high school, she entrusted me to be a prosecuting attorney with the closing argument, and nominated me for a political fellowship, the US Senate Youth Program. I said “huh? I know nothing about politics.” I ended up getting that opportunity, and went to Washington DC, meeting President Obama.

That experience changed my trajectory — in college, I studied government, and last year DSG was one of the first calls I made when I ran for office. I was so touched when she donated to my campaign.

I reached out to my former Mock Trial teammates about her loss, and I heard many of the same things: “DSG was such a positive influence for me.”

DSG, every time I stand up to speak, I carry your lessons with me. Thank you for seeing in me what I couldn't yet see in myself, and doing that for so many students like me. Rest in Peace. taken in Redlands, California by @mtclai

69

10

a year ago

Summer hobby: movie nights with friends 🎥🍿

@technicolor_talbot and I started organizing a monthly San Francisco themed movie night. We’ve watched two classic SF movies so far — Fearless (1993) last month and Harold & Maude (1971) last night. It’s been a privilege to hear Joe speak about movies; if you haven’t seen his debut film @lastblackmansf please do — it’s beautiful and soulful.

@eriktorenber and I have also hosted two modern @a24 movies out in theaters @friendshipmovie and @materialists — lots of laughing and crying.

Growing up my family watched a lot of movies so this has been fun and nostalgic.

Comment if you’re in SF and want to join a future movie night, or have any must watches! taken in San Francisco, California by @mtclai

66

18

a year ago

Happy Mothers Day and retirement to my amazing mom!! Last week we took a trip together to Toronto and Montreal — we had a blast exploring cherry blossoms, museums, hiking, visiting cathedrals, eating fine French and street bagels in Montreal. But the best part was just hanging out talking about life.

Super lucky to have such an amazing, open-minded, loving, thoughtful mom and so excited for this next chapter of your life. I love you mom!

Friends - you will not regret taking your parents on trips!

(Dad you’re great too dw I have not forgotten you) taken in Toronto Ontario Canada by @mtclai

71

8

a year ago

Starstruck meeting godfather of AI @yoshuabengio at @milaquebec today and talking AI policy.

Professor Bengio is a pioneer of deep learning, a core breakthrough behind the current AI wave, and winner of the ACM Turing (computing’s Nobel Prize). His papers are the #1 cited in the field: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kukA0LcAAAAJ&hl=en

In the past two years he has pivoted to make sure AI goes well for humanity. He just penned an op-ed this morning about a new research direction for AI safety, “Scientist AI”: https://time.com/7283507/safer-ai-development/

And he spends his time on international AI policy, leading the first international AI safety report this January: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679a0c48a77d250007d313ee/International_AI_Safety_Report_2025_accessible_f.pdf

Through his leadership Montréal has become an AI hub with 1200 researchers at @milaquebec

Immensely grateful for Professor Bengio’s time and his contributions to human progress. taken in Mila - Institut québécois d'intelligence artificielle by @mtclai

32

1

a year ago

@chatgpt Studio Ghibli + @nancyhtung our fearless @sfdemocrats Chair, prosecutor and my big sis honored by Mayor @danielluriesf yesterday for Women’s History Month! taken in City Hall San Francisco California by @mtclai

107

4

2 years ago

what’s better than one Claudine Cheng? two! an honor to see @chengclaudine at the amazing @asiansarestrong International Women’s Day event @asianartmuseum

Claudine is the founder of @apasf heritage month each May in SF, a lawyer, community leader and always forward thinking — we talked about the current state of AI.

Let’s be real, the world would be better with two Claudines, not just one… taken in Asian Art Museum by @mtclai

43

0

2 years ago

Sign up to land a date with Michael!
💘Dear Community Presents: Will you be my Valentine? (21+)
💘Friday 03/07, 6-8 PM
💘 Location: Lions Den 57 Wentworth Pl
💘 Tickets: Free
💘Stars: Debbie Ly + Michael Lai

RSVP ON OUT LINKTREE IN BIO!

Event Description:

Get ready for ‘Will You Be My Valentine’! Dear Community brings you an electrifying love quest for singles. Two fabulous contenders are on a mission to find love in San Francisco. They’ll dive into a pool of potential dates, battling it out with questions and challenges to discover their perfect match. But it’s not just for singles! Everyone’s invited to join our audience and support our love-seekers.

Meet the Singles:

Michael Lai : Meet Michael!

Meet Michael Lai. His six-word story? ‘Former entrepreneur now fixing San Francisco.’ Raised by immigrant parents, Michael grew up playing every sport imaginable, made them proud by going to Harvard, then immediately disappointed them by not becoming a doctor.
Instead, he helped build a new global university and early childhood schools before diving into SF politics last year. When he’s not organizing communities, you can find him on karaoke & the dance floor, tracking down the best boba, or saying yes to spontaneous adventures.

He’s been getting a lot of wedding invites lately—and is hoping to find someone who’s sweet, sassy, and bold enough to impress his 81-year-old Chinese grandma.

Do you want to participate in the action and compete for one of our singles love? Please apply on our Linktree in bio! Applying does not guarantee you will be chosen, someone from our team will follow-up with you.

#valentine #willyoubemyvalentine #datenight #dategameshow #dearcommunityevent #asiannonprofits by @mtclai

3

23

2 years ago

my parents flew in from China today and thought I was in SF…

…instead I surprise picked them up at LAX airport after they celebrated lunar new year in China!

My parents have picked me up from the airport so many times. It meant a lot to return the favor, see their smiling faces, hear about their travels, and drive them home after a long journey. ❤️🙏🏻

gunning for that good chinese son ‘25 award fa sho.

Luna our dog was even more thrilled when we got home. Hug your fam tight! We only get one.

(pic / vid credit to amy who was waiting for her dad to fly in from vietnam!) taken in LAX - Tom Bradley International Terminal by @mtclai

58

2

2 years ago

Happy Lantern Festival 元宵节快乐! Today ppl eat tang yuan & light lanterns for the last day of Lunar New Year.

Throwback to the 2023 lantern festival party friends and I co-hosted - thanks @jueyanz for tangyuan & @iamrosewang for lanterns

Tmrw, 1.5B ppl around the world will get back to daily life after 14 days of LNY. Make a lantern wish today for the new year! by @mtclai

55

1

2 years ago