BRICS and AI Governance: India's Chairmanship Ahead

India's broader foreign policy goals of preserving strategic autonomy and enhancing its impact on global governance are reflected in its membership in BRICS.

- Prof. Dr. Kemal Yıldırım

Introduction

As a grouping that today includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new entrants such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Ethiopia, BRICS embodies both opportunity and complexity. India's role is essential in navigating these dynamics: balancing ties with major powers, shaping collective strategies, and projecting the aspirations of the Global South.

By forming strategic partnerships within BRICS, India aims not only to safeguard its national interests but also to advance cultural, economic, and technological objectives. Yet the bloc faces inherent challenges: internal rivalries, ideological divergences, and the risk of appearing overly China-centric or positioned as an anti-Western alliance. These issues require deft diplomacy, particularly as India assumes the chairmanship.

Within this context, artificial intelligence (AI) represents both a transformative opportunity and a governance challenge. The BRICS framework, which unites more than 40% of the world's population, offers fertile ground for technological cooperation. Joint investments in AI and digital infrastructure could democratize access to innovation, promote social inclusion, and support sustainable development. Conversely, a failure to coordinate risks exacerbating inequality, deepens geopolitical divides, and allows technology to become a tool of rivalry rather than cooperation.

AI Governance in the BRICS Context

AI has rapidly moved to the forefront of global governance debates. While the OECD, EU, and G7 have advanced Responsible AI frameworks emphasising transparency, fairness, and accountability, many developing countries face resource and capacity constraints that limit their participation. BRICS, therefore, provides an alternative platform for the Global South to shape governance norms.