Xi announces BRICS Open-Source AI Zone to counter US dominance

The proposal aligns with Xi’s broader strategy to position China as a leader for the Global South. He also invited BRICS nations to join the World AI Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-backed body comprising nearly thirty states. The summit emphasized the need for stable supply chains and integrated markets, with plans to establish innovation incubators and modernize traditional industries across member and partner countries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi supported the idea of making BRICS-developed solutions accessible to the wider Global South. However, he also issued a cautionary note regarding the potential exploitation of technology and critical minerals, implicitly referencing China’s significant influence over rare earth supplies and its ambitions in the AI sector. The summit concluded with a consensus statement on regional stability, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.