Musk, Zuckerberg urge G20 to build more AI data centers

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday urged world leaders to accelerate the construction of AI data centers and the power infrastructure to support them, as the G20 Innovation Ministerial convened in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for two days of talks on artificial intelligence and emerging technology.abc11+1

The event at the Carolina Inn, organized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, has drawn technology ministers from 19 countries and two global regions. Nvidia ↗ 0.84% CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are scheduled to speak in person on Wednesday.today.rtl+1

Musk's Economic Predictions

Speaking virtually, Musk estimated that AI could increase the global economy by 20 to 30 percent, or roughly $20 trillion to $30 trillion per year. He predicted that AI would reach "Stockfish-level" capability within 12 to 18 months, making it impossible for humans to compete in writing software. Looking further ahead, Musk forecast more than a billion humanoid robots within a decade, each producing at least five times the output of a human.cnbc+4

Musk also warned of a looming "crisis of power," saying a electricity shortfall would hit data centers as soon as next year and that the shortage was giving China an advantage. He said his companies were building their own power generation to address the gap.today.rtl+1

Regulation and Startups

Both Musk and Zuckerberg called for governments to avoid burdening AI development with heavy regulation. Musk singled out the European Union, telling ministers — including representatives from France, Italy, and Germany sitting in the room — that EU rules made new technology "default illegal" and slowed innovation.finance.yahoo+1

He urged G20 nations to shift support away from established corporations and toward startups, comparing new companies to "small saplings in a forest" that are starved of resources while large firms enjoy government access. Zuckerberg, for his part, said the data center buildout would require "hundreds of thousands and maybe millions of jobs" in skilled trades but that Meta ↗ 1.00% was already struggling to find enough workers.today.rtl+2

Local Tensions

The ministerial is unfolding against a backdrop of public unease over AI expansion. Protesters gathered over Interstate 40 on Monday, and another demonstration is planned for Wednesday on UNC's campus. Polls show a majority of Americans now oppose the construction of new data centers, citing rising electricity bills and noise. President Donald Trump on Monday attacked opponents of the facilities as "backwards and poor".today.rtl+1

The Chapel Hill talks are among several G20 ministerial meetings being held across the United States ahead of a leaders' summit Trump will host December 14–15 at Trump National Doral in Miami.wral+1