The United States urged G20 member countries to adopt a restrained approach toward artificial intelligence regulation during a two-day technology meeting held in North Carolina. The gathering of industry leaders and commerce ministers took place amid growing global debate over how to govern AI technologies as their capabilities rapidly evolve.
U.S. tech adviser Michael Kratsios, who co-hosted the event, encouraged participants to endorse the “Carolina Principles,” which call for new regulation to focus only on genuinely novel issues related to AI development. Kratsios emphasized the importance of investing in foundational research to accelerate innovation while expanding commercial opportunities. He argued that policymakers should avoid treating every technological advancement as a unique policy challenge.
The U.S. position aligns closely with leading AI companies, many of which are American-based, that generally favor minimal regulatory intervention. Industry representatives contend that extensive government oversight could hinder innovation, slow the introduction of new AI models, and require changes to product performance that might impact profitability. A White House official indicated that the U.S. delegation intends to discourage the creation of new regulatory agencies specifically to oversee AI.
This meeting arrives at a critical juncture as competition intensifies between the U.S. and China for dominance in AI technologies. Chinese companies have increasingly produced open-weight AI models—systems with publicly accessible core components—that are becoming more capable relative to proprietary models from American firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. Experts warn that these developments heighten concerns over potential security risks should Chinese authorities seek to exploit such technologies.
Recent incidents, including a hack involving a rogue OpenAI agent that compromised the infrastructure of AI platform Hugging Face, have spotlighted the challenges of monitoring AI systems that operate with limited human supervision. A United Nations panel recently cautioned that AI advancements are outpacing both scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks worldwide.
Notable figures participating in the meeting included SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who criticized European Union regulations as restrictive to technological progress and called for efforts to develop alternative energy sources to power data centers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was scheduled to address the ministers via video link, replacing company president Dina Powell McCormick. Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis was also set to speak remotely.
Canada confirmed it would send officials to the discussions, with its delegation emphasizing the need to balance innovation with public trust and safety. This diplomatic engagement unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing trade tensions between the United States and Canada.
The North Carolina meeting is part of a series of U.S.-hosted forums ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit planned for Miami in December, where AI governance is expected to remain a priority topic.