This week marked a significant milestone for North Carolina as the state’s AI Leadership Council convened for its inaugural meeting. This council has been established to enhance the state’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, governance, and deployment, in line with Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order on AI.

Bringing together nearly 30 public and private sector experts, the meeting laid the groundwork for North Carolina’s goal to become the most AI-literate state in the nation. The council will play a critical role in advising and supporting the Governor and state agencies on developing AI strategies, policies, protections, and training initiatives aimed at driving innovation and advancing AI-driven industries.

In his opening remarks, Governor Stein emphasized the pivotal role AI plays in shaping the future of North Carolina’s economy, growth, and safety.

“Through the Council’s leadership, we can harness AI to unlock economic growth, attract innovation, improve government efficiency, and prepare our workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must be well-equipped to take on these opportunities and challenges to make North Carolina stronger, safer, and more prosperous.”

The council is chaired by Secretary of Information Technology Teena Piccione and Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, both of whom expressed their commitment to ensuring the responsible and effective deployment of AI technologies in the state.

“Building trustworthy AI is essential for creating efficient and safe experiences that save time and expand job opportunities,” Secretary Piccione emphasized. “Prioritizing trust in AI development ensures that innovation aligns with fairness and transparency, ultimately fostering a future where technology benefits all communities.”

North Carolina is already home to significant AI projects, including Amazon’s new $10 billion AI innovation campus in Richmond County. Additionally, the FUJIFILM Diosynth facility in Holly Springs stands out as the largest end-to-end biomanufacturing facility in North America, showcasing the state’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies.

“Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy, and North Carolina will shape, not merely adapt, to that transformation,” said Secretary Lilley. “Through Governor Stein’s AI Leadership Council, we’re bringing together industry, education, and government partners to make sure our state’s workforce and businesses are ready to compete and to ensure that innovation translates into real opportunities, good jobs, and sustainable growth for people in every region of North Carolina.”

The council’s initiatives will also include deploying AI to improve government operations, identifying unnecessary regulations, and providing user-friendly AI agents to assist North Carolinians in navigating state services.

As North Carolina takes this monumental step toward advancing its AI capacity, the state remains committed to developing a tech-savvy workforce prepared for the evolving technological landscape.

In Executive Order 24, the Governor also established the North Carolina AI Accelerator within NCDIT to serve as a centralized hub for AI governance, research, partnership, development, implementation, and training. The executive order also mandates the establishment of an AI Oversight Team for each state agency and outlines parameters for an AI Literacy and Fraud Prevention Training Program for the general public.

Members of the AI Leadership Council:

• Teena Piccione, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Information Technology and State CIO (Co-Chair)
• Lee Lilley, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Commerce (Co-Chair)
• Sen. Todd Johnson, NC Senate, District 35, Senate Majority Whip
• Sen. DeAndrea Salvador, NC Senate, District 39
• Rep. Zack Hawkins, NC House of Representatives, District 31
• Rep. Jake Johnson, NC House of Representatives, District 113, House Deputy Majority Whip
• Dr. David Yokum, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
• Mary Penny Kelley, Chief of Staff, NC Office of State Human Resources
• Kunal Choksi, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Consumer Protection Director at North Carolina Department of Justice
• Vera Cubero, NC Emerging Technologies Consultant, Department of Public Instruction
• Bryan Harris, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer at SAS
• Phaedra Boinodiris, Global Leader of Responsible AI at IBM Consulting
• Marina Chase Carreker, Founder, Galleon Strategies
• Igor Jablokov, Chairman, Pryon Inc.
• Dr. Thomas Reardon, former VP, Research at Meta; Partner, Lux Capital
• Dr. Stan Ahalt, Ph.D., Dean, School of Data Science and Society, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• The Hon. Tommy Sowers, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Duke Initiative for Science and Society
• Dr. Andrea Crowley, Ph.D, Executive Director, NC Student Success Center, North Carolina Community Colleges
• Dr. Siobahn Day Grady, Ph.D., Founding Director, Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research & Associate Professor of Information Systems at North Carolina Central University
• Dr. Angel Hsu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Policy and Environment, Ecology and Energy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Founding Director, Data-Driven EnviroLab
• Markell Storay, Chief Information Officer and Director of Innovation & Technology, City of Charlotte
• The Hon. Shinica Thomas, Wake County Commissioner
• Jennie Bowen, Workforce Development Director, Rivers East Workforce Development Board
• Leslie Boney, Principal, BoneConnector.com; Former Director, Institute for Emerging Issues, NC State University
• Rick Knafelz, Managing Director, Employee Experience Technology, Bank of America
• Hannah Drummond, RN, Vice President, NC AFL-CIO
• Todd Olson, CEO & Co-founder, Pendo
• Sarah Bacha, Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Strategy, Analytics, and AI, LendingTree

For more information about the AI Leadership Council and the state’s AI efforts, visit it.nc.gov/ai.

An epic natural event known as the Shadow of the Bear is once again captivating visitors in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Cashiers.

Between mid-October and early November, the setting sun aligns perfectly with Whiteside Mountain, casting a shadow across the valley that resembles a massive bear moving through the forest.

The rare phenomenon appears for about 30 minutes on clear days, typically around 5:30 pm. Locals say it’s best viewed from the Rhodes Big View Overlook off Highway 64, where crowds gather with cameras ready to capture the fleeting spectacle.

The event coincides with peak fall foliage, making it one of the most photographed natural scenes in the state. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot and to use caution, as the area often experiences heavy traffic during the display.

For those who miss the fall viewing window, nature offers a second chance — the Shadow of the Bear will return again between mid-February and early March, when the sun’s position recreates the same magical effect.

From O’Neill surfboards in California to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Vermont, and Ford trucks out of Michigan, some products are stitched so tightly into their home state’s identity that they’re practically part of the local flag. But which North Carolina-made goods inspire the most pride today?

That’s the question MarketBeat.com, a leading financial media company, set out to answer. Surveying 3,015 respondents, they asked North Carolinians to name the products that make them beam with state pride. The results were as follows:

#1 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Winston-Salem)
Iconic glazed doughnuts with a “Hot Now” sign that draws crowds. North Carolinians beam with pride knowing their hometown treat still makes people pull U-turns for a warm dozen.

#2 Burt’s Bees (Durham)
Natural personal care products with global reach. Ask any North Carolinian, and they’ll smile knowing a little beekeeper’s hobby from their state became a worldwide brand.

#3 Mt. Olive Pickles (Mount Olive)
The largest privately held pickle company in the U.S., rooted in Eastern North Carolina. Locals love that their jars add the crunch to sandwiches from coast to coast.

#4 Biltmore Wines (Asheville)
Wines produced from grapes grown on the famous Biltmore Estate. For locals, it’s proof that North Carolina doesn’t just have mountains to admire – it has vintages worth toasting, too.

#5 Texas Pete Hot Sauce (Winston-Salem)
Despite the name, this hot sauce has been made in NC since the 1920s. North Carolinians get a kick out of the name confusion – and an even bigger kick out of putting it on everything.