Technology, AI & Cyber
AI data centers: tech bosses press G20, split on risk
US technology executives including Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief Sam Altman urged G20 ministers in North Carolina to adopt artificial intelligence, while differing over data centers and the risks of the technology.
The executives spoke on the second day of a G20 meeting where the Trump administration brought leading AI figures before ministers from major economies.
Huang told ministers that AI should be treated as infrastructure, like water, roads, electricity and the internet. “Every single country needs to build infrastructure so that you can support your own local economy,” he said.
Huang said data centers provide capacity for researchers, students, society, industries and startups. Nvidia's graphics processing units are key components used to train AI models in data centers.
He also rejected the idea that AI would eliminate all jobs, arguing that work would be redefined as tasks are automated. Huang warned that countries could fall behind if leaders speak about AI with fear and uncertainty.
Altman was less forceful about countries building their own data centers, saying some would build them while others would rent capacity from elsewhere. But he said adopting AI was “non-negotiable” because the value to countries was too high to ignore.
Altman took a more cautious tone on risk. “Worry is warranted. Worry is how we anticipate problems,” he said. He also warned against the technology concentrating wealth.
The meeting at the University of North Carolina drew about 100 to 200 protesters opposing the fast development of AI. Data centers have become politically contentious in the United States, where some communities are concerned about their impact on electricity rates.
UK science and technology minister Chris McDonald said business leaders and governments had different responsibilities. He said Britain was pursuing AI acceleration and public trust at the same time, and warned that communities had to be brought along with new projects.
Earlier speakers at the same meeting, including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, also called for support for more AI data centers and the electricity needed to run them.
Update
OpenAI chief Sam Altman told G20 ministers that adopting AI was not optional, while saying some countries could rent data-center capacity instead of building it.
Altman said worry about AI risk was warranted.
About 100 to 200 people protested AI's fast development at the meeting site.
UK science and technology minister Chris McDonald said governments must balance AI acceleration with public trust and community consent.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 19:35:32 UTC.
Update
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang urged G20 ministers to build more data centers to support artificial intelligence.
Huang said countries risk being left behind if leaders speak about AI with fear and uncertainty.
Huang rejected the idea that AI would eliminate all jobs, saying tasks would be automated but work would be redefined.
Huang urged governments not to regulate hypothetical harm and to focus on actual and pragmatic harm.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick moderated Huang's appearance and called him an American treasure.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 14:21:59 UTC.
Update
Mark Zuckerberg said AI data center construction could require hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions, of skilled-trade jobs.
Zuckerberg said Meta could not find enough skilled tradespeople for the data centers it wants to build.
Elon Musk said there would be a significant power shortfall next year for AI data center expansion.
Musk said artificial intelligence could increase the global economy by 20 to 30 percent per year.
Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis said human-level AI could have ten times the impact of the Industrial Revolution if handled responsibly.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 19:40:21 UTC.
Update
Elon Musk participated virtually and urged G20 ministers to avoid heavy regulation of technology and AI.
Musk defended construction of AI data centers, saying they were needed to address a power shortfall in AI capacity.
Musk criticised European Union regulation, saying it slows progress with new technologies.
David Sacks said he opposed creating bodies to test powerful AI systems before release and said regulating cutting-edge AI like airplanes or drugs would be a disaster.
Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg was listed among executives participating virtually.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 14:58:55 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The long-term effects of AI adoption on jobs, wealth concentration and electricity costs remain contested.
Source
AFP news report published on .