RALEIGH — North Carolina has officially kicked off its drive to become the most AI-literate state in the U.S. with the inaugural meeting of the state’s AI Leadership Council. Established under Gov. Josh Stein’s executive order on AI, the council aims to significantly boost the state’s capabilities in AI governance, deployment and public understanding.
The council brings together nearly 30 experts from both the public and private sectors. Its core function will be to provide crucial advice and support to the governor and state agencies, guiding the creation of AI strategies, policies, safeguards and training programs necessary to advance AI-driven industries and fuel innovation.
Stein underscored AI’s vital role in shaping the state’s future economy and safety. He stated that through the council’s work, North Carolina can “harness AI to unlock economic growth, attract innovation, improve government efficiency, and prepare our workforce.” He emphasized the need for the state to be well-equipped to manage both the opportunities and challenges to ensure a more prosperous future.
The council is co-chaired by Secretary of Information Technology Teena Piccione and Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley. “Building trustworthy AI is essential” for creating efficient, safe experiences and expanding job opportunities, ensuring that innovation is aligned with transparency and fairness, Piccione said.
North Carolina is already a nexus for major AI investment, hosting projects such as Amazon’s new $10 billion AI innovation campus and the Fujifilm Diosynth biomanufacturing facility. Lilley affirmed that the state intends to “shape, not merely adapt” to the global economic transformation, ensuring that this innovation translates into “real opportunities, good jobs, and sustainable growth for people in every region.”
Future council initiatives will focus on using AI to enhance government operations, including streamlining regulations and implementing user-friendly AI agents to help citizens navigate state services.
To support the effort, Stein’s executive order also created the North Carolina AI Accelerator within NCDIT as a central hub for AI governance, research and training. Furthermore, the order requires the establishment of an AI Oversight Team for every state agency and mandates a new public AI Literacy and Fraud Prevention Training Program.
