Chinese President Xi Jinping utilized the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, to promote Beijing's vision for artificial intelligence, proposing a BRICS "community" for open-source AI. This initiative aims to foster cooperation in developing large language models and offer a cheaper alternative to US technology, with China also inviting BRICS nations to join its new World AI Cooperation Organization. This push comes as China seeks to establish global influence in AI governance amidst its rivalry with the United States.
Simultaneously, prominent US AI companies, including Anthropic PBC and OpenAI, are advocating for a deceleration in AI development to better understand potential risks. These calls for caution, however, are likely to face resistance from Wall Street, other parts of the tech industry, and the Trump administration, which may be disinclined to support any substantial slowdown in AI progress.
Adding to the global discourse on AI risks, China's State Security Minister, Chen Yixin, issued a stark warning about the technology's potential to threaten China's political, institutional, and ideological security if misused by adversaries. Chen also criticized certain countries for using "blacklists, closed-source ecosystems, and tech curbs" that he believes are fragmenting global AI industrial and supply chains, exacerbating development imbalances. His comments align with China's push for an open-source approach to ensure AI security and equity.
The contrasting approaches highlight a growing divergence in global AI strategy: China's emphasis on an open-source ecosystem and rapid development for economic and geopolitical advantage, versus a segment of the US tech industry's focus on safety and controlled progress. The BRICS joint declaration did not explicitly endorse Xi's specific open-source AI proposals, instead calling for general international cooperation on AI accessibility, safety, and reliability. Beijing is expected to further champion AI governance at the 2027 BRICS Summit.
