Sarah Mehler of Left Field Labs on Generative AI

It's redefining the creative process

Sarah is an entrepreneur and creative technologist with 20 years of leadership experience. In 2008, she founded Left Field Labs to create digital firsts through novel tech applications for businesses like Google, Amazon, Salesforce and Meta. She serves as CEO.

Prior to Left Field, Sarah held posts at Gensler and ad2, where she immersed herself in design, architecture, business development and digital marketing strategy. She is also deeply involved in non-profits such as Pachamama Alliance and Women’s Earth Alliance. 

We spent two minutes with Sarah to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired. 

Sarah, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in Berkeley, Calif., and moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. After graduating, I moved to Venice Beach to establish professional roots—before it was known as Silicon Beach—and my company, Left Field Labs, was born. I now reside in the Bay Area.

How you first realized you were creative.

In first grade, I made a mock radio out of wood, complete with hand-drawn rotating dials and a nail for the antenna. My dad helped me hollow out the inside to hide a working radio. I brought it to show-and-tell and remember how astonished my classmates were that my wooden radio actually played music.

A person you idolized creatively early on.

Charles and Ray Eames. Their innovative use of materials and practical, accessible design set a gold standard.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

When I was accepted into the design media arts department at UCLA.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

Aphex Twin’s work has significantly shaped the landscape of electronic music, pushing boundaries in terms of sound design, rhythm and compositional techniques. His influence extends into broader popular culture. 

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

“Robot Dreams” was super inspiring to me. It’s got this poetic vibe about the connection between humans and machines, showing how we can co-create with AI. The idea of technology blending with human creativity really hit home.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on. 

Our work on “Best Phones Forever” showcased how AI can enhance Google’s connectivity with its audience. The initial project entailed a one-day campaign on Instagram Reels that used generative AI tools like Gemini, piloting a new model for user-driven content. To deepen audience participation, Google wanted to reward fan engagement, highlighting the Google Pixel and iPhone friendship through video responses. This created an entirely new way for audiences to engage with the brand, while developing an exciting new tool for AI and creativity. 

A recent project you’re proud of.

“Dreamforce 2024.” We designed and developed an immersive installation that brought Salesforce’s Agentforce AI CRM platform to life. Our centerpiece was a 30-foot kinetic Einstein structure incorporating real-time AI gameplay to engage the audience through games and challenges. This installation highlighted innovation, storytelling and cutting-edge technology. 

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago. 

The Hubble space images. They show this incredible range—from vast views of the universe to the tiniest details.

What is one thing about how creativity is evolving in generative AI that you’re excited about?

Human imagination is expanding through the use of machine intelligence. I see this as a symbiotic relationship. Generative AI is not just augmenting human capabilities. It’s fundamentally redefining the creative process. What happens when we combine the best of human intuition with machine-powered analysis? It’s limitless.

Someone else’s work you admired lately. 

Greta Gerwig. As a female filmmaker, she’s breaking boundaries and pushing the limits of storytelling in such a fresh way.

Your main strength as a creative person.

Challenging assumptions, holding the space for all possibilities to exist and creating mutually beneficial outcomes.

How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.

Fostering a culture of belonging, which enables the highest form of collaboration, creativity and innovation. Moving into egalitarian leadership models where everyone’s voice matters. Speaking at conferences like Google Cloud Next and universities such as U.C. Berkeley.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in creative technology? 

Working more closely with nonprofits such as Pachamama Alliance, building sustainability initiatives and constructing regenerative systems for the planet. I would also be in my painting studio, and planning my next gallery exhibition.