# Lutnick urges G20 countries to allow AI training for innovation, not block it based on “theoretical harms” > Source: > Published: 2026-09-02 17:44:13+00:00 Speaking before G20 countries in North Carolina, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick reported urged countries to balance the need for AI training and innovation, while still protecting artists. Lutnick told the countries to recognize “fair use” in AI training. “We need frameworks that protect creators and inventors whose ingenuity drives our economies without creating the barriers that prevent the next generation of innovators,” [Lutnick said. ](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/us-urges-g20-countries-allow-ai-training-creators-work-6357881) Regulations should not block AI training based on “theoretical harms,” according to Lutnick. [More from Channel News Asia](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/us-urges-g20-countries-allow-ai-training-creators-work-6357881). Lutnick’s support for fair use in AI training at the G20 coincides with the United States’ Statement of Interest supporting fair use just filed in the lawsuits against OpenAI. The G20 countries are: Argentina Australia Brazil Canada China France Germany India Indonesia Italy Japan Mexico Russia Saudi Arabia South Korea Turkey (Türkiye) United Kingdom United States European Union African Union *South Africa was not invited to the 2026 meeting