BRICS New Delhi Declaration Puts Artificial Intelligence at the Centre of Global South Cooperation

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, placing artificial intelligence, scientific innovation, digital infrastructure and equitable access to AI resources at the centre of the bloc’s future cooperation agenda. Leaders committed to safer, more inclusive and energy-efficient AI while China proposed a BRICS AI open-source community and deeper collaboration on large language models.

The future of artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a question of global power, development and access—not just technological competition between Silicon Valley and China.

At the 18th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, 2026, leaders of the expanded 11-member grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, giving artificial intelligence a prominent place in the bloc’s cooperation agenda.

The declaration recognises AI as a major driver of economic growth and sustainable development, while stressing that developing countries must receive wider access to computing resources, knowledge, infrastructure and scientific capabilities.

The outcome is significant because BRICS brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—representing a substantial share of the world’s population and a growing portion of global economic activity.

BRICS Calls for Wider Access to AI Resources

One of the most important elements of the New Delhi Declaration is its emphasis on making AI resources more accessible.

The document states that international cooperation is essential to improve access to AI resources while ensuring that AI remains safe, secure, inclusive and reliable. It also highlights the importance of energy efficiency in AI systems, trustworthy technologies and the use of AI for economic growth and social welfare.

This reflects a major concern across the Global South. Advanced AI development requires expensive computing infrastructure, specialised chips, large datasets, energy-intensive data centres and highly trained researchers. Many developing countries risk becoming users of foreign AI systems without having the ability to build, train or govern their own models.

BRICS’ position seeks to challenge that imbalance by promoting more equitable access to AI infrastructure and scientific knowledge.

The declaration also links AI with sustainable development, suggesting that the technology should be applied to areas such as healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, disaster management, education and industrial productivity.

AI Must Support Science and Innovation

The summit’s AI agenda was closely connected with broader cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

The declaration reaffirmed the importance of BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation working groups and welcomed the proposed BRICS Science and Research Repository, which is intended to support voluntary knowledge storage and sharing among member countries while respecting national laws, data security, intellectual property rights and national policies.

Such a repository could eventually help researchers across BRICS countries exchange scientific findings, datasets, research outputs and technical knowledge more efficiently.

For countries attempting to strengthen domestic scientific capacity, access to international research networks can be as important as access to computing hardware. AI-assisted research in areas such as drug discovery, materials science, climate modelling, agriculture and engineering depends heavily on the availability of high-quality scientific data and cross-border collaboration.

The declaration therefore presents AI not merely as a commercial technology, but as an instrument for strengthening research ecosystems.

Xi Jinping Proposes a BRICS AI Open-Source Community

China used the summit to promote a more structured AI cooperation model among BRICS nations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that China take the lead in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community, supporting cooperation in the development and application of large language models, organising specialised AI seminars and training programmes, and building a more open AI ecosystem.

The proposal is strategically important.

Most of the world’s leading frontier AI models are developed by companies based in the United States, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta. Their models, computing infrastructure and advanced AI chips remain concentrated within a relatively small group of countries and corporations.

An open-source BRICS AI initiative could provide member states with an alternative route to AI development by encouraging shared models, technical training and collaborative research.

However, the proposal also carries geopolitical implications. A China-led open-source ecosystem could increase Beijing’s influence over AI standards, model architectures, cloud infrastructure and digital development across emerging markets.

Open Source Could Reduce Dependence on Western Technology

For many BRICS countries, open-source AI has practical advantages.

Open models can potentially be modified for local languages, regional datasets and national priorities. They may also allow universities, startups and public institutions to experiment without paying the licensing costs associated with proprietary systems.

This could be particularly valuable in countries with large populations but limited access to advanced commercial AI platforms.

For example, AI models adapted for local languages could support education, public services, healthcare access and agricultural advisory systems. Regional AI infrastructure could also help governments retain greater control over sensitive data.

At the same time, open-source development does not automatically eliminate dependence on foreign technology. Training advanced models still requires powerful chips, large data centres, specialised engineering talent and reliable electricity supplies.

The BRICS debate therefore includes both software access and the wider question of technological sovereignty.

BRICS Science Academies Had Already Built the Foundation

The summit’s political declaration followed months of scientific and academic discussions under India’s BRICS presidency.

The BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 was organised around the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development and Strengthening Global South Cooperation.”

The forum brought together representatives from national science academies to examine how AI could support healthcare, climate action, food security, disaster management and sustainable development. A major focus was developing collective, collaborative and context-sensitive approaches to AI.

The second in-person meeting took place at IIT Hyderabad on July 22–23, 2026, bringing scientific institutions together to discuss shared priorities and opportunities for AI-driven research.

This academic track is important because it moves the BRICS AI agenda beyond political statements. It creates a possible institutional framework through which universities, research academies and public laboratories can collaborate on real projects.

Energy Efficiency Becomes a Major AI Priority

The declaration’s reference to energy-efficient AI systems reflects one of the biggest challenges facing the technology.

Large AI models require enormous quantities of electricity for training and operation. As countries build more data centres, they must also address power generation, cooling, transmission capacity and environmental impact.

For emerging economies, energy efficiency is particularly important because expensive AI infrastructure could otherwise place significant pressure on national electricity systems.

BRICS countries could cooperate on more efficient computing architectures, low-power AI models, specialised chips, renewable-powered data centres and shared research into sustainable computing.

This could also create opportunities for countries with strong energy, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to contribute to the AI ecosystem without necessarily competing directly with the largest American model developers.

Digital Public Infrastructure and Connectivity Are Also Central

The summit’s technology agenda extends beyond AI models.

The broader BRICS cooperation framework includes strengthening digital public infrastructure, improving digital connectivity and advancing cooperation in Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing and emerging digital industries.

Submarine cable connectivity and resilient digital networks are particularly important for countries seeking greater independence from existing technology routes and infrastructure controlled by a limited number of global providers.

AI systems depend on connectivity, cloud platforms, data exchange and reliable digital services. Without these foundations, access to AI remains uneven even when models are technically available.

BRICS’ focus on digital ecosystems therefore suggests an attempt to build a broader technological foundation rather than simply launch a shared AI model.

A Global South Alternative to AI Governance

The New Delhi Declaration also connects AI development with global governance.

BRICS leaders committed to implementing the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, reinforcing the bloc’s position that AI rules should be inclusive and should not be shaped exclusively by a small group of advanced economies.

The debate includes several issues that are particularly important for developing countries: access to computing resources, affordability, data sovereignty, algorithmic fairness, intellectual property, cybersecurity and the distribution of economic benefits.

BRICS countries are seeking a model in which AI governance reflects the interests of the Global South rather than treating developing nations solely as markets for foreign technology.

India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit in February 2026 was also acknowledged in the declaration as a contribution to international cooperation on shared AI priorities.

India’s Role as a Bridge Between Technology and Development

For India, the summit offered an opportunity to position New Delhi as a bridge between advanced technology development and the priorities of emerging economies.

India has increasingly promoted AI for public welfare, digital public infrastructure, scientific research, language technology and inclusive economic growth. Its experience with large-scale digital platforms gives it a distinctive role in discussions about how AI can be deployed across diverse populations.

The BRICS declaration’s focus on affordable access, science and sustainable development closely aligns with India’s broader technology diplomacy.

At the same time, the summit revealed that BRICS is not a completely unified technological bloc. China is seeking a stronger leadership role in AI infrastructure and open-source ecosystems, while India and other members are likely to balance cooperation with concerns about strategic dependence on any single country.

Cooperation and Competition Will Continue Together

The BRICS AI agenda is ambitious, but implementation will be difficult.

Member countries have different political systems, technology capabilities, data rules, economic priorities and relationships with the United States and Europe. Some possess advanced research institutions, while others are still developing basic digital infrastructure.

Building shared AI models, research repositories or digital platforms will require agreement on data access, intellectual property, security standards, computing costs and governance.

There is also a clear strategic competition within the cooperation framework. China’s open-source proposal could support broader access to AI, but it could also increase Chinese influence over the technological standards adopted by other BRICS members.

That tension is unlikely to disappear. BRICS cooperation may therefore develop through a combination of shared research, national AI programmes and competing technology ecosystems.

A New AI Geography Is Emerging

The New Delhi Declaration demonstrates that AI is becoming a central part of the emerging global economic order.

The next phase of AI development will not be shaped only by the United States, China and a handful of private technology companies. Countries across the Global South are increasingly demanding access to computing, scientific knowledge, open models and the ability to shape the rules governing the technology.

By placing AI resources, science, innovation, sustainability and governance at the centre of its 2026 agenda, BRICS is attempting to establish a collective position in that debate.

The real test will be whether the declaration produces functioning research partnerships, affordable AI infrastructure, open technical resources and measurable benefits for citizens.

If implemented effectively, the BRICS AI agenda could help create a more distributed global technology ecosystem. If it remains limited to diplomatic commitments, its impact will be largely symbolic.

For now, the message from New Delhi is clear: the future of artificial intelligence should not be controlled by a small group of countries or companies, and the Global South intends to play a more active role in defining it.