North Carolina's AI Leadership Council released an AI Strategic Roadmap outlining 17 strategic goals to protect residents, prepare the workforce, and modernize government services as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates across the state. The roadmap, ordered by Governor Josh Stein through Executive Order 24 in 2025, brings together stakeholders from the private sector, government, education, and labor to address AI's impact on daily life and the economy.
"Artificial intelligence is already changing how we work, learn and serve the people of our state, and North Carolina must lead with urgency and care," Stein said. "This roadmap gives our state a strategy to protect people from harm, prepare our workforce for opportunity and transform how government serves the public. Together, we can make North Carolina a place where innovation and trust move forward together."
Three strategic priorities
The 17 goals fall under three priorities: protecting residents from AI-related harms such as fraud, scams, and privacy violations; preparing the workforce for future jobs and maintaining the state's business competitiveness; and transforming government services to improve outcomes. Specific efforts include advancing trustworthy AI, expanding AI literacy, supporting workers, and increasing accountability for AI systems. The council's approach aims to balance innovation with ethical safeguards so that AI benefits both residents and industries.
Preparing the workforce and staying competitive
The workforce preparation pillar targets the talent pipeline and economic competitiveness that matter to business leaders across the state. The roadmap's emphasis on AI literacy and worker support reflects priorities often discussed in AI for Executives & Strategy, where decisions about automation, upskilling, and strategic adoption carry long-term consequences. By aligning education and training with industry needs, the state aims to keep North Carolina attractive for business investment.
Building public trust through governance
N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Nate Denny framed the roadmap as a trust-building exercise. "This is not just a technology plan. It is a plan to build public trust," Denny said. "People are relying on AI to interact with information, government services and one another. That means North Carolina has a responsibility to put the right governance, safeguards, training and transparency in place so AI is developed responsibly, deployed thoughtfully and used in ways that improve lives." The roadmap's government modernization goals echo many of the principles found in AI for Government frameworks, which stress governance, transparency, and responsible deployment in public-sector AI use.
Earlier this month, the General Assembly established the North Carolina AI Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators focused on developing policy related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The caucus signals growing legislative engagement with AI governance alongside the executive branch's roadmap.
Why this matters for Executives and Strategy
For executives and strategy leaders, North Carolina's roadmap is a signal that state-level AI policy is moving from abstract discussion to concrete action. The focus on workforce readiness, competitive positioning, and governance creates both opportunities and compliance considerations for companies operating in or with the state. As governments build guardrails and invest in AI literacy, private-sector strategies will need to align with evolving public expectations around transparency and accountability. The roadmap's emphasis on public trust also previews the kind of operating environment businesses may face as AI regulation matures.
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