BRICS - Global AI Governance

Overview

BRICS, an influential bloc of emerging economies, is increasingly coordinating its efforts to shape the global landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance. Recognizing AI as a transformative force for economic growth and sustainable development, BRICS advocates for a governance framework that is inclusive, equitable, and representative of the diverse needs of its member states and the broader Global South. The bloc's approach emphasizes digital sovereignty, ethical development, and the mitigation of risks associated with AI technologies, while fostering innovation and international cooperation. This collective stance positions BRICS as a significant voice in the ongoing global dialogue on AI regulation.

AI Governance Mandate

BRICS' mandate for AI governance is rooted in its commitment to strengthening Global South cooperation and promoting a more inclusive and sustainable international order. The bloc aims to ensure that AI development and deployment align with national regulatory frameworks and the principles of the United Nations Charter, respecting the sovereignty of states. A core aspect of this mandate is to prevent AI from exacerbating existing digital divides and to ensure that all countries, regardless of their stage of economic development, have the right to benefit from, develop, and use AI. BRICS leaders have consistently called for a collective global effort to establish AI governance that upholds shared values, addresses risks, builds trust, and ensures broad and inclusive international collaboration and access, with the United Nations at its core.

Key AI Instruments

Several key instruments underpin BRICS' AI governance activities:

• BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence (2025): Adopted at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, this landmark declaration outlines comprehensive governance principles. It emphasizes multilateralism with the UN at its core, fair market regulation, equitable access to technology, fairness, sustainable development, and ethical, trustworthy AI that benefits humanity. It also addresses concerns about AI's impact on labor markets, education, and information integrity, calling for mechanisms to ensure human oversight, transparency, and accountability.
• Charter on Responsible AI (2024): Adopted at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, this document promotes transparent, inclusive, and culturally sensitive AI development.
• BRICS Understanding on Data Economy Governance: This framework aims to improve data flows among BRICS countries, recognizing data exchange as essential for socio-economic development, while promoting digital inclusion, sovereignty, and security.
• BRICS 2030 Economic Partnership Strategy: Renewed to include the digital economy and AI, this strategy guides the group's economic cooperation with priorities such as the multilateral trading system, digital economy, international trade and investment, financial cooperation, and sustainable trade and development.

Implementation Mechanisms

BRICS employs various mechanisms to implement its AI governance agenda:

• Working Groups and Study Groups: The BRICS Working Group on ICT Cooperation plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration in information and communication technologies, including AI. Other specialized groups include the BRICS Working Group for the Research of Competition Issues in Digital Markets, which focuses on AI's implications for competition, the BRICS AI Study Group announced in 2023, and AI-focused working groups under the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR). The BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFN) also has a Study Group on AI.
• New Development Bank (NDB) Initiatives: The NDB, established by BRICS nations, plays a key role in financing projects that promote sustainable development and social inclusion through AI. It launched a $5 billion “Digital Sovereignty Fund” to finance major AI infrastructure projects across member states, including AI research parks, data centers, and semiconductor fabs. The NDB also introduced a Multilateral Guarantees Initiative to improve credit access across the Global South.
• Ministerial Meetings: Regular meetings of BRICS Communications Ministers and Foreign Ministers address AI-related issues, emphasizing cooperation in information exchange, cybersecurity, and the development of digital services.
• Capacity Building and Collaboration: BRICS nations are committed to joint research, data-sharing, and regulatory alignment to ensure AI is safe and beneficial for all. This includes supporting shared training data repositories that respect culture, investing in local ecosystems, and promoting open-source collaboration.

Member Engagement

Member engagement is central to BRICS' AI governance efforts, with each nation contributing its unique perspectives and expertise. The bloc encourages policy exchanges and dialogues to establish a global governance framework that protects human rights while spurring innovation and economic growth. Individual member states are actively integrating AI into their national strategies, with examples such as China's AI regulation, India's focus on democratizing AI infrastructure, and Ethiopia's appointment of a BRICS Digital Minister to advance AI initiatives. The BRICS Social Protection Observatory was launched to coordinate policy responses to AI's impact on labor, including investment in digital skills and worker protection.

Current Focus Areas

Currently, BRICS' AI governance focus areas include:

• Digital Sovereignty and National Autonomy: Emphasizing the right of each nation to establish its own regulatory frameworks, develop AI research capabilities, foster technological autonomy, and ensure data protection.
• Inclusive and Equitable Access: Advocating for fair and equitable access to AI technologies, data, and research capacity for all countries, particularly those in the Global South.
• UN-led Global Governance: Positioning the United Nations as the central authority for global AI governance to avoid fragmentation and duplication of efforts.
• Ethical and Responsible AI: Promoting the development and use of AI that is safe, ethical, trustworthy, transparent, and addresses concerns such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and misinformation.
• Sustainable Development: Leveraging AI to mitigate climate change, enhance environmental conservation, and contribute to the social and economic pillars of sustainable development, while minimizing AI's own environmental impact.
• Fair Competition and Market Regulation: Encouraging fair and transparent market regulations that foster competition and avoid distortions in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, BRICS aims to further deepen its cooperation on AI. India, as the host of the next BRICS Summit in 2026, is expected to make the implementation of the AI governance roadmap a central focus. This will involve continued efforts to harmonize national approaches to AI, while rejecting premature common standards that might stifle innovation or disproportionately affect developing countries. The bloc will continue to promote open-source collaboration, strengthen capacity building for developing countries, and advocate for an international AI governance framework that reflects the priorities of the Global South. The New Development Bank will likely continue its investments in digital infrastructure and AI-powered solutions to support sustainable development goals across member states.

Resources