Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of U.S.–China strategic competition, with massive investments in frontier models, data centres and associated infrastructure.
- The BRICS framework is seeking a more cooperative approach that emphasises open access, collaboration and insulation of AI development from geopolitical rivalry.
Competing Approaches to AI Development
- U.S. approach: Frontier AI development is increasingly linked with technological leadership and strategic competition with China, driving large investments in computing infrastructure and AI firms.
- BRICS approach: Emphasises cooperation, open-source development and wider access to AI capabilities rather than allowing technological dominance by a few countries.
- At the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals, while Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a BRICS AI open-source community.
India’s Position
- India has adopted a middle path, avoiding opposition to U.S.-led frontier AI models while emphasising that AI development should remain insulated from geopolitical rivalries.
- India's relatively developing AI ecosystem partly explains its focus on access and deployment, rather than competing immediately at the frontier of AI model development.
- Wider participation in AI deployment could nevertheless generate long-term economic and technological benefits for India.
Challenges for the Global South
- Countries of the Global South can become collateral participants in great-power technological rivalry when access to advanced AI models or technologies is restricted.
- Trade disputes and geopolitical tensions can disrupt technology supply chains, potentially limiting access to AI capabilities.
- Broad and timely access to AI is increasingly relevant to economic development as well as national security.
BRICS as a Platform for AI Cooperation
- BRICS initiatives can create additional avenues for middle-power cooperation and reduce excessive concentration of AI capabilities among a few technologically advanced countries.
- Open-source and collaborative AI can provide countries greater technological autonomy and reduce dependence on unpredictable policy decisions of individual major powers.
- Although open-source models may currently lag behind leading proprietary systems in some capabilities, their rapid improvement could benefit economies focused more on AI deployment than frontier model development.
AI Safety and Cybersecurity Concerns
- Emerging AI systems have demonstrated capabilities that raise concerns about instruction-following failures, autonomous behaviour and exploitation of vulnerable computer systems.
- If such capabilities are weaponised, their impact could be particularly serious for countries with weaker cyber-defence infrastructure.
- Developing and disseminating affordable defensive AI and cybersecurity capabilities requires international cooperation rather than concentrated access.
Significance of Open and Collaborative AI
- Technological concentration: Open-source ecosystems can reduce dependence on a small number of frontier AI developers.
- Digital sovereignty: Wider access can help countries build domestic AI capabilities without complete dependence on foreign proprietary systems.
- Inclusive development: Affordable AI tools can enable developing economies to participate in AI-led productivity gains.
- Collective security: Sharing defensive technologies can help countries address emerging AI-enabled cyber threats.
Way Forward
- BRICS can develop mechanisms for open-source AI research, responsible deployment, cybersecurity cooperation and affordable access to AI technologies.
- International AI governance should balance innovation, safety, technological sovereignty and equitable access, ensuring that AI capabilities do not become divided into technological “haves” and “have-nots”.
