TLDR: At their 17th annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS leaders adopted a landmark declaration advocating for a global artificial intelligence governance framework that ensures inclusive, equitable, and human rights-based access to AI technologies. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide, prioritize the needs of the Global South, and prevent AI from exacerbating existing global inequalities, emphasizing its role in sustainable development.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan, concluded its 17th annual summit in Rio de Janeiro from July 6-7, 2025, with a unified call for a more inclusive and equitable global governance of artificial intelligence. Under the theme ‘Strengthening global south cooperation for more inclusive and sustainable governance,’ the leaders issued the ‘BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence,’ signaling a coordinated push to shape global AI rules.
The joint declaration emphasizes that AI represents a ‘milestone opportunity’ for sustainable development and innovation, but warns against uncoordinated governance models that could deepen global inequities, marginalize developing nations, and fracture multilateralism. A central tenet of the document is the urgent need for fair, equitable, and inclusive access to AI technologies, asserting that all countries, regardless of their economic standing, must be able to access and benefit from AI.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underscored this sentiment, stating, ‘Artificial intelligence must not be a privilege for the few, nor a tool of manipulation in the hands of millionaires.’ The declaration outlines guidelines to foster responsible development, deployment, and use of AI technologies, strictly referring to their application in the non-military domain. These guidelines are to be applied through domestic or applicable international frameworks, and through the development of interoperable standards and protocols via inclusive, transparent, and consensus-based processes.
The BRICS leaders also called for global cooperation in building data governance frameworks that allow developing countries secure and equitable access to data, with full respect for privacy, intellectual property rights, and national laws. This commitment extends to supporting open science, open innovation, and open-source AI models to fuel local innovation ecosystems.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the summit, reinforced the call for a multilateral, inclusive, and human rights-based approach to AI governance. He stated, ‘Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies. The fundamental test is how wisely we will guide this transformation – how we minimize the risks and maximize the potential for good.’ Guterres also announced plans to present a report suggesting voluntary financing mechanisms to build AI capacities in developing nations, urging BRICS support for the initiative.
The statement identifies key sectors where AI can drive sustainable development, including healthcare, agriculture, education, energy, and environmental conservation. While recognizing AI’s potential to enhance productivity and job creation, the leaders also acknowledged risks such as job displacement, exploitation, bias, misinformation, and surveillance. They called for policies that safeguard worker rights, ensure compatibility between AI and human capabilities, and promote decent work in the digital economy.
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Furthermore, the BRICS bloc criticized the fragmented state of international AI governance, advocating for the United Nations system to serve as the central forum for setting global AI standards to ensure inclusivity and legitimacy. The next BRICS Summit, scheduled to be hosted in India in 2026, is expected to focus significantly on the implementation of this ambitious AI governance roadmap.
