During the week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, TIME convened a panel discussion focusing on the transformative power of in tackling global issues.

TIME’s Executive Editor, Nikhil Kumar, questioned Justina Gallegos, previously a deputy director at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, about the government’s role. Gallegos stated that the government should establish innovation guidelines, protect communities, and stimulate solutions. She highlighted that government investments have fueled 96% of recent online developments.

Chris Walker, Director of Sustainability at Amazon Web Services (AWS), emphasized the private sector’s existing contributions. He stated that AWS and Amazon are the “largest corporate purchaser of for the last five years,” referencing 600 global projects generating enough energy for 8 million U.S. homes. He also mentioned the use of -powered for installation in California.

Julie Linn Teigland, EY’s Global Vice Chair for Alliances & Ecosystems, pointed out that companies require “flexible” and “agile” leadership, along with regulatory and oversight efforts, to successfully adopt AI. She stressed the need for genuine commitment, stating that meaningful change requires more than just sending an email. Teigland also emphasized the importance of collaboration, asserting that problems cannot be solved in isolation.

Nathalie Flores, Vice President of Carbon Markets and Strategic Accounts at StoneX Group, initiated a Q&A session by asking about corporate social responsibility. Walker highlighted AWS’s local education initiatives, including the creation of labs for students in Loudoun County, Virginia, where an AWS data center is located. Onika Williams from Meta inquired about managing the uncertainties of AI.

Teigland responded by emphasizing the importance of prioritizing human needs. She noted the overemphasis on job displacement and the insufficient discussion of job transformation. “The opportunity is there, we need to run towards it. This is going to make us better, faster, more intelligent, but we’ve got to do it in the right way,” she stated.

TIME100 Talks: Disrupting for Opportunity—Transforming Systems to Address Global Challenges was presented by Philip Morris International.

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