On November 3, 2025, the Carolina Leadership Coalition hosted a live panel discussion titled “Fostering Innovation,” moderated by Bartlett Cleland, General Counsel at NetChoice. The event featured North Carolina state representatives and industry experts exploring artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and policy strategies to position North Carolina as a leader in technological advancement. The hour-long discussion emphasized an optimistic, abundance-oriented approach to tech policy, advocating for minimal regulation to spur innovation while addressing practical challenges like energy demands and workforce development.
The panel opened Representative Jake Johnson (House District 113, IT Committee Chair) leading the AI policy segment, stressing that AI is an emerging, rapidly evolving technology requiring simple explanations for policymakers. He outlined a forthcoming bill aimed at making North Carolina the “most AI-friendly state” by shielding developers from frivolous lawsuits, limiting liability, and prioritizing education and workforce training. Johnson warned against overregulation, noting it could disadvantage the U.S. internationally (e.g., against China), and highlighted the bill’s focus on attracting companies from states like California through favorable tax structures and customer-service integrations in government.
Taylor Barkley, Director of Public Policy at the Abundance Institute, provided historical context, tracing AI back to the 1950s and crediting ChatGPT’s 2022 release for its current prominence. He described AI as advanced computing, encompassing tools like large language models, navigation apps, and chess programs, trained on vast internet data. Barkley noted the difficulty in defining AI, even among experts, complicating legal frameworks. He advocated to enforce existing laws over new regulations—with a good practical suggestion to swap “AI” with “Excel” in bills to test applicability—and proposed principles like entrepreneurial freedom, responsible government use with transparency, and infrastructure welcomes. Proactive measures included Montana’s “right to act” (a “Second Amendment” for computing) and explicit bans on AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
Shifting to hardware, Representative Matthew Winslow (House District 7, IT Committee Chair) demystified data centers as essential “gigantic server closets” for AI, emails, photos, and national security, not just high-tech novelties. He championed deregulation to avoid stifling innovation, drawing parallels to electricity and the space race.
Justin Hill from NetChoice discussed national trends, noting states like Florida and Montana are introducing “right to compute” acts to attract AI development. He highlighted data centers’ role in rural revitalization, offering $100,000+ jobs for high school graduates and community investments.
Rob Corradi from AWS detailed a $10 billion investment in Richmond County as a floor commitment creating 500 jobs. He emphasized criteria like energy availability, fiber infrastructure, and workforce readiness, underscoring that companies seek welcoming environments with holistic support beyond tax breaks. The panel addressed misconceptions, such as data centers being “energy hogs,” noting modern efficiencies like air cooling and their net-positive impacts (e.g., funding schools in Loudoun County, Virginia).
Many thanks to our guest speakers for their insights. We at CLC believe an abundance mindset unlocks economic opportunities while safeguarding civil liberties, AI and data centers can be tools for prosperity, and balanced, forward-thinking policies will help us maintain North Carolina’s competitive edge.
