By admin 
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — Some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence are in Chapel Hill for day two of the G20 Innovation Ministerial.
Read more NASCAR drivers in favor of return to Chase format, saying it will yield a more legitimate champion
Ministers from around the world are gathered to address the future of technology, including artificial intelligence. The topics include investments, regulation and expectations from the growing tech sector.
Wednesday morning, Tom Brown, the co-founder Anthropic, joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Data centers continue to be a controversial topic across the country, including North Carolina.
-
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown at the G20 Innovation Ministerial on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Russ Bowen / CBS 17) -
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the G20 Innovation Ministerial on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Russ Bowen / CBS 17) -
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the G20 Innovation Ministerial on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Russ Bowen / CBS 17)
Brown explained why data centers are crucial as technology continues to develop.
“We’re in a huge shortage of the power and labor needed to support the demand for AI,” Brown said. “I really loved President Trump’s post from from earlier this week where he was pointing out that the data centers are just an enormous source of prosperity. They produce a ton of jobs. They reduce taxes. Now, the way that we design them, we actually bring on more power to the grid.”
Read more Canes announce Hurricanes Hockey Network, with games to be broadcast on Prime Video
MORE FROM CBS 17
ORANGE COUNTY NEWS
AI leaders speak to G20 ministers in Chapel Hill
G20 protestors in Chapel Hill call for AI regulations
Body of UNC professor recovered from Chapel Hill lake
See the latest news from Orange County
Elected officials in a number of communities in North Carolina have passed moratoriums on new data centers as concerns are raised about the amount of power the facilities need in order to operate.
Brown also talked about real world applications that he believes AI will help improve including the practice of law.
NOW PLAYING
-
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, speaks at the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Russ Bowen / CBS 17) -
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Russ Bowen / CBS 17)
“There’s tons of companies now that will go and they will take the model and figure out what are the things that it needs to know, what are the tools that it needs to have in order for it to be a productive lawyer in a in a law firm?” said Brown. “Same thing for biology, same thing for for mechanical engineering, like the long, long list of all the possible different things where you might want a model to be going and doing work. And so that’s a place where I’m extremely grateful for the vibrant ecosystem around the world. Of all of the different startups that can go and take this thing that’s not that useful by itself, and then get it connected to to the real world.”
Read more The 49ers set to embark on the NFL’s longest road trip for the season opener in Australia