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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) –Economic leaders from some of the world’s largest economies gathered in Chapel Hill for G20 discussions on emerging technology and artificial intelligence.
The G20 Innovation Ministerial starts Tuesday, Sept. 1, and will run through Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The two-day event at the Carolina Inn will feature some of the most influential figures in technology, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who are scheduled to speak Wednesday. Elon Musk is expected to deliver remarks virtually. Leaders from 19 countries and two global regions will be in North Carolina for G20.
Day 1 Recap
The first day of the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill focused on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and the growing demand for data centers, drawing virtual appearances from some of the tech industry’s most prominent leaders.
Officials and policymakers gathered Tuesday at the Carolina Inn for the international forum, which focuses on shaping policy around technological innovation.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and entrepreneur and investor David Sacks were among the guest speakers, with Musk and Zuckerberg joining virtually.
The discussions included artificial intelligence investment, workforce development and concerns about whether existing energy infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand.
Musk warned that power generation could become a significant challenge as AI development accelerates.
“What the consensus is, there will be a significant power shortfall next year, so not in the distant future,” said Musk.
The first day of the G20 Innovation Ministerial drew virtual appearances from some of the tech industry’s most prominent leaders.
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Beyond infrastructure concerns, speakers discussed AI’s broader economic implications.
“I think AI will increase the global economy by 20-30%. That’s my rough estimate, meaning on the order of $20-$30 trillion per year,” Musk said.
Zuckerberg said AI could dramatically reduce barriers for entrepreneurs launching new businesses.
“I would expect that the cost of starting a business is going to go way down,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s going to take way less capital in the future, maybe way less people to get it started. Therefore, the shape of the economy going forward, I think there are going to be a larger number of startups and a larger number of thriving small businesses.”
At the same time, Zuckerberg explained workforce shortages are slowing efforts to build the infrastructure needed to support AI growth.
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Security and Traffic
Town officials advised people in the area and visitors to expect delays near the Carolina Inn because of increased security and police presence.
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