The Group of 20 nations reached consensus on a landmark set of principles governing emerging technologies on 3 September, overcoming significant political differences at the two-day G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The agreement, anchored by the newly coined Carolina Principles, commits all 20 member economies to accelerating innovation, expanding investment, and driving economic growth through coordinated tech policy.

What the Carolina Principles Establish

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House science advisor Michael Kratsios jointly announced the agreement at the close of the ministerial. “We have reached consensus on our G20 innovation ministerial statement,” Lutnick said. “That means we had all 20 countries agree, and it was an enormous amount of work.”

The Carolina Principles call on governments to invest in foundational research, strengthen pathways for commercialising new discoveries, and promote the trusted adoption of emerging technologies. Crucially, they recommend leveraging existing sector-specific regulations where applicable, and introducing new rules only when genuinely novel considerations demand it.

Designed for Any Legal System

Kratsios emphasised the principles’ flexibility across different political and legal frameworks. “These principles can be applied to any novel development and within any legal system and will empower all G20 countries to build policy frameworks that increase productivity, strength and national competitiveness and improve quality of life,” he said.

He cited commercial drone operations as a concrete illustration — a technology that required fresh regulatory thinking because existing aviation rules were not designed for large-scale drone delivery. The same logic, officials argued, applies to artificial intelligence in government services and workforce transitions driven by automation.

AI and the Innovation Agenda

“Today in particular, artificial intelligence is poised to expand economic opportunity and improve the lives of our fellow citizens if we navigate this moment effectively and responsibly,” Kratsios said. The US framed its position as one of inclusive ambition — seeking stronger innovation and economic growth across all G20 economies, not just its own.

The ministerial drew participation from several leading technology companies and research institutions. Executives and researchers from Nvidia, SpaceX, Meta, Google DeepMind, and others addressed the gathering, signalling the degree to which private-sector voices shaped the policy conversation.

Navigating the Politics

Lutnick acknowledged that reaching unanimity was not straightforward. “When you bring global leaders together, there’s always lots of politics,” he said. “People sometimes like to stay out of consensus to make a point as opposed to the point of the consensus.” He noted that discussions ultimately remained focused on substantive issues — artificial intelligence, technological standards, and the opportunities presented by innovation — rather than being derailed by geopolitical posturing.

The G20 comprises 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, collectively accounting for the bulk of global economic output, international trade, and world population. The Chapel Hill agreement marks a rare instance of full G20 consensus on a technology governance framework at a time of deepening geopolitical rivalry over AI and semiconductor supply chains.

What Comes Next

The Carolina Principles are non-binding guidelines rather than a treaty, meaning implementation will depend on each member economy’s domestic policy architecture. Industry bodies and technology researchers are expected to engage with national governments on translating the principles into sector-specific frameworks over the coming months.