Burned-out tech worker finds new home after ChatGPT chooses French town

Julie Neis, a Michigan native and former tech worker, moved to the medieval French town of Uzès after asking ChatGPT to choose her new home. The AI chatbot selected Uzès over Sarlat-la-Canéda based on her criteria for a slower pace of life, good weather, markets, and an international community—a decision that helped her recover from severe burnout and rediscover her sense of self.

What you should know: Neis used AI to cut through decision paralysis after experiencing corporate burnout that left her with anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue.
• She input her “whole backstory,” values, and wish list into ChatGPT, which suggested two French towns before ultimately recommending Uzès in the Occitanie region.
• “I know that sounds crazy, to let AI make a decision about your life,” she says. “But it was relieving me from the overwhelm that I felt, and it could just be an adventure.”

How the move unfolded: Neis arrived in Uzès in March with minimal belongings after securing a Passeport Talent residence permit.
• She quit her San Francisco-based job, sold her car, and flew to Nice with just two suitcases and a duffel bag.
• Upon first walking into the town, she thought “Okay, here we go” and found the AI’s choice “very accurate.”
• She rented a furnished one-bedroom apartment with vaulted ceilings and a view of the medieval tower.

Building community: Initially worried about isolation, Neis gradually connected with other international residents through her YouTube channel.
• “When I met those expats, they were like, ‘Wow, you really bring our age down by quite a lot,'” she says, noting most were retirees.
• She appreciates that people in France don’t immediately ask about her profession: “Because that’s not the most important thing…”

The lifestyle trade-offs: Life in Uzès offers both benefits and limitations compared to her previous American lifestyle.
• Overall costs are lower, though local salaries are also reduced and prices have risen recently.
• Simple conveniences like Sunday grocery shopping aren’t available, requiring full-day trips to larger cities like Nîmes or Avignon for specialty items.
• She misses American conveniences but has embraced the slower pace and daily rituals like coffee at Place aux Herbes.

Her recovery and future plans: The move has helped Neis overcome her burnout and rediscover her identity.
• “I completely feel like myself again,” she says. “I just can’t even express what a relief that is… Because I got to the point where I just thought I was never going to feel normal again.”
• She now runs a YouTube channel called French Julie Travels, hosts week-long retreats and food tours, and is considering buying property despite rising prices.
• While she visits the US once or twice yearly, she doesn’t plan to move back permanently: “It feels like this little town is where I’m meant to be — whether for now, a few years, or possibly forever.”

What she’s saying about the AI decision: Despite the unconventional approach, Neis believes the risk paid off.
• “It’s scary to leave a full-time salary and not know how things will unfold,” she says. “But I’m so much happier. It’s an adventure, and I feel so lucky to be here experiencing this new life.”