Joint BRICS Projects in Artificial Intelligence

Amid a global technological transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness. According to a study by Yakov and Partners, the realised economic potential of generative AI across the BRICS nations could reach $600 billion by 2030. Nearly 70% of this impact is expected to be concentrated in six key sectors: finance, retail, mechanical engineering, energy, electronics, and IT. However, the distribution of economic benefits among the BRICS members is highly uneven: China accounts for over 86% of the total impact, India, Brazil, and Russia together contribute 12%, while the remaining countries represent less than 2%. 

China continues to solidify its role as the AI leader within BRICS and a global competitor to the United States. Chinese firms have already launched proprietary solutions that match—and in some areas surpass—the capabilities of Western AI models. The country accounts for more than 47% of the world’s most-cited AI research publications and ranks first in patent applications. India is undergoing one of the most dynamic transitions from pilot projects to industrial-scale AI adoption. According to the AIdea of India: Outlook 2026, 47% of Indian enterprises already have multiple operational use cases for generative AI, with an additional 23% in the pilot phase.

In Russia, the implementation of AI technologies is projected to contribute 11.2 trillion roubles to GDP growth by 2030 under the National AI Strategy. The country is prioritising the development of sovereign AI technologies and has established a dedicated task force to coordinate implementation efforts. Russian organisations are also actively engaged in building international AI cooperation infrastructure within BRICS. Brazil demonstrates one of the highest levels of engagement with generative AI globally. The country ranks among the top three in weekly ChatGPT usage, with approximately 140 million messages processed daily, and holds second place in terms of the number of active developers using APIs powered by OpenAI. Together with South Africa, Brazil is emerging as a hub for ethical AI innovation, particularly in agriculture and healthcare.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leveraging their financial resources to build advanced infrastructure and attract cutting-edge technologies to create global hubs for computing and AI development. Indonesia exemplifies how AI can be used to address specific national priorities, such as advancing aquaculture and expanding educational access in remote regions. Iran has demonstrated that AI development can proceed under constrained conditions, though it continues to face challenges including brain drain and limited access to quality data. Ethiopia is in the early stages of its AI journey, taking initial steps toward practical applications. Egypt, supported by UNESCO, is making notable progress in developing ethical and inclusive AI frameworks.

The BRICS nations recognise that international cooperation is essential to fully harness the potential of artificial intelligence. Experts have identified five priority areas for collaboration: joint development of generative AI models and products, shared computing resources and databases, human resource development and educational models, and the creation of a regulatory framework.

In 2024, the BRICS Summit in Kazan adopted a framework programme for AI cooperation, which has already facilitated the launch of several initiatives.

For instance, the BRICS AI Research and Innovation Centre is now implementing projects in multilingual natural language processing, smart agriculture, and climate change forecasting.

Limited access to high-quality data and sufficient computing power remains a significant barrier to AI advancement. The BRICS Digital Cloud Corridor aims to establish a shared data storage and high-performance computing network. This infrastructure will enable BRICS members to run AI models independently of servers located in the US or EU.

The New Development Bank (NDB) plays a crucial role in financing AI infrastructure. In 2025, the NDB launched a $5 billion digital sovereignty fund, dedicated to developing AI infrastructure—including research parks, data centres, and microcircuit production—across the BRICS countries.

The BRICS AI Ethical Charter, proposed by South Africa and Egypt in 2024, seeks to establish shared principles of fairness, transparency, and public accountability for all member states, offering an alternative to Western frameworks.

Following the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025, a separate document—the BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence—was adopted. It places special emphasis on ensuring equitable geographic representation in global AI governance. The statement outlines core principles in this field, including the following: "Digital Sovereignty and the Right to Development are Central to Global AI Governance," "Access to AI Technology Should be Fair, Equitable, Enabling and Inclusive," and "A Balanced Approach is Needed to Protect Intellectual Property and Safeguard the Public Interest."

A significant practical initiative was the launch of the BRICS AI Success Hub platform, introduced at the international Artificial Intelligence Journey Conference in November 2025. The platform hosts approximately 80 verified AI use cases from about 30 countries and includes a dedicated search engine. As the project initiators noted, this hub helps create a unified space for sharing best practices of AI use across the BRICS community.

The success of BRICS efforts in AI development will ultimately depend on its ability to overcome internal disparities, align regulatory frameworks, and build a genuinely inclusive AI ecosystem capable of competing on equal terms with Western platforms. If current trends hold, BRICS stands a strong chance of emerging as an influential global centre for AI development and regulation, presenting the world with an alternative model grounded in the principles of multilateralism and sovereignty.