TL;DR
A first-person year-in-review reflects on Silicon Valley’s current tone: serious, self-serious, and increasingly dominant in technology and politics. The author describes moving from Yale to Stanford, praises aspects of Bay Area meritocracy and community while warning of narrowness, cultural blind spots, and the growing centrality of AI.
What happened
In a 2025 year-end letter, the author sketches changes in San Francisco and Silicon Valley since the mid-2010s, describing a region now dominated by AI and a more overt political presence. They compare the public tone of tech leaders—po-faced corporate language or solemn philosophical pronouncements—to the rhetoric of the Chinese Communist Party, noting that both can be humorless and remorseless. The letter recounts the author’s move from Yale to Stanford and observes that the Bay Area has become weirder and more experimental, but also narrower in outlook. The piece highlights strengths—meritocratic hiring, openness to immigrants, fast product cycles, tight-knit communities and institutions that convene founders—and flags weaknesses, including limited cultural awareness, an obsessive focus on a few technical projects, and strains on civic arts organizations. Examples cited include remarks by tech figures, a list of Xi Jinping’s jokes published by official media, rising youth in accelerator cohorts, and a decline in some cultural institutions.
Why it matters
- Tech’s cultural and political centrality reshapes national conversations about AI, regulation, and public life.
- Silicon Valley’s openness and rapid innovation pathways influence career trajectories for young technical talent.
- Narrow intellectual focus in parts of tech could limit broader civic engagement and cultural stewardship.
- Declining support for arts and civic institutions highlights tensions between concentrated wealth and local public goods.
Key facts
- The letter is a 2025 year-in-review written in the first person and dated January 1, 2026.
- The author moved from Yale to Stanford during the year.
- The piece compares the public registers of Silicon Valley leaders and the Chinese Communist Party, describing both as serious and frequently humorless.
- AI is described as a dominant force in San Francisco’s tech scene.
- A list of Xi Jinping’s jokes was cited as published by party propagandists.
- Sam Altman’s public remarks about AI mixing corporate and philosophical tones are referenced.
- The median age of a recent Y Combinator cohort was reported as 24, down from 30 three years earlier.
- The author notes shrinking support and leadership gaps at some cultural institutions, including the symphony after Esa-Pekka Salonen’s departure.
What to watch next
- How the political influence and public role of major tech companies evolve in U.S. policy debates.
- Not confirmed in the source: whether driverless vehicles now common in the Bay Area will be widely accepted elsewhere.
- Not confirmed in the source: whether Silicon Valley will expand support for national cultural institutions or alter funding patterns.
Quick glossary
- Silicon Valley: The region in Northern California known for its concentration of technology companies, startups, and venture capital.
- Meritocracy: A system in which advancement is based on ability, talent, and achievement rather than on class or other status.
- Effective Altruism: A movement that applies evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to benefit others; it has diverse adherents and interpretations.
- Y Combinator: A startup accelerator that provides seed funding, mentorship, and a cohort-based program for early-stage companies.
- Politburo: A small group of top leaders in a communist party responsible for major policy decisions and public messaging.
Reader FAQ
Who wrote the 2025 letter?
Not confirmed in the source.
Did the author relocate during the year?
Yes; the letter says the author moved from Yale to Stanford.
Does the letter praise Silicon Valley?
The author highlights virtues such as relative meritocracy, openness to immigrants, fast product cycles, and strong founder networks while also critiquing narrowness and limited cultural awareness.
Are specific policy recommendations included?
Not confirmed in the source.
January 1, 2026 2025 letter (This piece is my year in review; I skipped a letter last year) One way that Silicon Valley and the Communist Party resemble each other…
Sources
- 2025 Letter
- 2025 in review: Silicon Valley's biggest stories
- Silicon Valley's 2025 Outlook: Challenges Persist Amidst AI …
- New faces, same fights: 2025 in San Francisco politics
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