Artificial intelligence is no longer in the distant future, but is currently reshaping every industry, every job, and every community.
Last week, the All Things Open AI Conference in Durham brought together North Carolina’s technology leaders, citizen innovators, and business experts to explore how the region can not only adapt to this revolution, but lead it.
The momentum is clear. North Carolina is on track to become a new AI hub, driving innovation, workforce growth, and shared prosperity.
North Carolina on the move: an emerging AI hub
Technology is reshaping every industry and community, creating more moments where leaders come together to think bolder than ever about the issues of the future. That’s why attending the All Things Open AI Conference in Durham was so energizing and meaningful for me, not only as a former elected official and technology advocate, but also as someone who believes that public leadership must evolve along with innovation.
I would like to especially thank Mark Hinkle, leader of Triangle AI, for bringing more than 4,000 technology and citizen stakeholders to the Carolina Theater and Durham Convention Center. Conferences like this are about more than just introducing new tools. They form the orbit of the area.
Mark opened the event with a reminder that every major technological innovation, from electricity to the internet, creates a divide between those who gain access early and those who are left behind, until access becomes universal. AI is no exception. The impact will be faster, broader and deeper than anything we have seen before, redefining not just the way we work but the very nature of work itself. That’s why gatherings like this are essential. These gatherings foster understanding, collaboration, and opportunity, ensuring that AI is an inclusive rather than disruptive force.
Last year, I wrote about North Carolina’s opportunity to become an AI emerging region, a place where workforce readiness, startup growth, and responsible innovation drive shared prosperity. (https://www.wral.com/business/technology/rao-north-carolina-ai-emergent-state-march-2025/) The All Things Open AI Summit showcased this momentum and highlighted progress in innovation and workforce development. This is a clear sign that the state is moving forward as an emerging AI hub.
Why leadership matters in the age of AI
The conference emphasized a simple but pressing truth: Preparing the state for the AI economy is more important than any election cycle, and the opportunities ahead for North Carolina are extraordinary. But we must act now.
Elected officials and policymakers need to start asking tough questions, such as:
- How can we ensure that AI creates opportunity rather than inequality?
- How can we responsibly power our future data infrastructure?
- How can we develop an AI-based energy strategy to help local governments approve data centers without overloading the power grid or compromising sustainability?
- How can we help small businesses and rural communities participate in the innovation economy?
North Carolina has what it takes to be a leader: world-class universities, a growing entrepreneurial culture, and a diverse and talented workforce. What we need now is urgency, collaboration and sustained vision.
Learn by doing: Practical AI training
One of the most powerful parts of the conference was the hands-on training for business professionals who learned how to integrate tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude into their daily workflows. Watching Mark teach newsletter drafting in real time was a stark reminder that the future of work is already here. Communities that invest in upskilling today will lead tomorrow.
Regional leadership to drive global innovation
Durham Mayor Leo Williams shared the city’s new AI strategy, which covers startup support, public-private collaboration and progressive governance.
These discussions proved that local leadership can shape global innovation trends and that North Carolina has the potential to become a national model.
Inspiration from AI pioneers
My final hearth conversation with Pryon CEO Igor Jablokov was particularly moving. His early work at DARPA and as founder of Yap (acquired by Amazon) laid the foundation for voice assistants like Siri. “Babies Siri and Alexa were born with RTP,” Zhablokov joked, emphasizing the triangle’s new role in AI innovation. He reminded us that our region has the potential to create innovative technologies for the world.
Igor also spoke candidly about the speed of technological change and the responsibility communities have to prepare workers and organizations for disruption. He illustrated this with a personal story. On his birthday, his mother published a drawing of her deceased pet. This is a reminder that while AI can give us what we want, only humans can give us what we really need. This truth also applies to first responders, veterans, and law enforcement officers. Their courage and compassion can never be automated.
The urgency of inclusive AI
The conference emphasized a simple but urgent truth: Communities that prepare today will lead tomorrow. North Carolina must ensure that AI creates opportunity, not inequality, responsibly strengthens its future data infrastructure, and helps small businesses and rural communities fully participate in the innovation economy.
Building a statewide AI strategy
The All Things Open AI Summit was more than just a gathering of technology leaders. It was a reminder that the future is being built right now, and that if we act boldly, our country can be at the forefront. We need leaders who can bridge technology, workforce opportunities, and economic growth in every region, from urban hubs of innovation to rural communities.
We need more Mark Hinkles on the Governor’s AI Leadership Council to develop a North Carolina AI strategy that increases productivity, improves workforce skills, and addresses data center energy challenges. Wake County could take similar action. That means establishing an AI task force to work with the Governor’s AI Leadership Council, replicating the AI accelerator model championed by AI Deputy Commissioner Isa Icy to provide a platform for local governments and businesses to showcase their technologies and solutions. (I’ll talk more about this topic next week)
Leading the AI revolution
We all must remain committed to this strategy and shaping the future of AI. North Carolina cannot simply adapt to the AI revolution. We must lead the AI revolution. The decisions we make today will determine whether our region and state become a national model for inclusive innovation.
The time to act is now. Let’s get to work.
Steve S. Rao is a former Morrisville City Councilman and opinion writer for WRAL Techwire.
