BRICS Nations Push for UN-Led Global AI Governance

The BRICS bloc, an influential grouping of emerging economies, has emphatically called for a United Nations-led framework for global Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance. Concluding their 17th Summit in Rio de Janeiro today, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly expanded members underscored the urgent need for an inclusive, equitable, and development-oriented approach to regulating AI.

In a joint statement, the BRICS nations recognized AI’s transformative potential for sustainable development and inclusive growth. However, they equally stressed the imperative to mitigate its inherent risks, including issues of bias, data privacy, ethical considerations, and the widening digital divide. Their unified stance emphasizes that any global AI governance must be “representative, development-oriented, accessible, inclusive, dynamic, [and] responsive,” while respecting national sovereignty.

This push for UN leadership reflects a broader desire within BRICS to reform global governance structures, which they argue no longer adequately represent the realities of the 21st century, particularly the needs and aspirations of the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, addressing the summit, highlighted that “21st century software cannot be run by 20th century type-writers,” advocating for complete reforms of international institutions.

The BRICS leaders also addressed concerns about the unauthorized use of data for AI training, calling for protections against data scraping and fair compensation for content creators. This signals a collective effort to shape digital regulations that prioritize data sovereignty and intellectual property rights, particularly in the face of AI models predominantly developed by Western tech giants.

While the consensus within BRICS on a UN-led framework is clear, the path to unified global AI governance presents challenges. Diverging national interests and geopolitical competition can complicate the achievement of a truly universal consensus. However, the BRICS initiative aims to foster responsible AI development and deployment, ensuring that its benefits are broadly distributed and contribute to a more prosperous future for all nations. The bloc’s growing influence, particularly with its recent expansion, is expected to significantly shape future discussions on AI regulation on the international stage.