Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 24 today to immediately create an AI Leadership Council, an AI Accelerator within the Department of Information Technology, and oversight teams in each state agency.
“AI has the potential to transform how we work and live, carrying with it both extraordinary opportunities and real risks,” said Governor Josh Stein in a press release. “Our state will be stronger if we are equipped to take on these challenges responsibly. I am looking forward to this council helping our state effectively deploy AI to enhance government operations, drive economic growth, and improves North Carolinians’ lives.”
The council, co-chaired by IT Secretary Teena Piccione and Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, will guide policy, training, and workforce development. With Amazon’s $10 billion AI campus in Richmond County and the FUJIFILM Diosynth facility in Holly Springs, state officials say demand for AI is rising alongside pressures on the energy grid.
The AI Accelerator will serve as a statewide hub for governance, research, partnerships, and training. Meanwhile, agencies will establish oversight teams and launch a literacy and fraud-prevention program to help residents navigate AI safely.
Executive Order 24 aims to boost innovation, expand AI-driven industries, and prepare North Carolina’s workforce for rapid technological change. The council’s first meeting is scheduled for later this year.
