Zuckerberg, Musk Make Plea at G20 for More AI Data Centers
At the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill on 1–2 September 2026, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk asked the world’s largest economies to clear the way for more AI data centers. Zuckerberg said Meta cannot find the skilled tradespeople to build them; Musk warned of a significant power shortfall arriving next year and put AI’s upside at $20–30 trillion a year. This article covers what each executive asked for, the Gallup, Emerson and Consumer Reports polling showing Americans turning against data center construction, the 439,000-worker labor gap behind the plea, and what the buildout fight means for businesses buying AI capacity.
