Xi Jinping Proposes BRICS AI Open-Source Community at Summit

China Announces AI Leadership Role Within BRICS

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will spearhead artificial intelligence collaboration efforts among BRICS nations, unveiling plans for an open-source AI community and expanded technology cooperation at the bloc's 18th summit in New Delhi on September 12, 2026.

According to a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi outlined several specific initiatives. China will establish a BRICS AI open-source community focused on developing and applying large language models, host AI seminars and training courses, and work toward building what Xi described as an "open AI ecosystem" for member countries.

The proposals extend beyond AI to broader digital infrastructure. Xi said China would help create a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform and facilitate digital skills training, technological exchange, and industrial alignment across the bloc. Additional initiatives include a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and a youth exchange program centered on scientific and technological innovation.

Why it matters

Xi's announcement positions China as a technology leader for developing nations at a time when AI capabilities are increasingly concentrated in Western companies and research institutions. By establishing open-source AI infrastructure within BRICS—a bloc that now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—China is creating an alternative pathway for AI development that could shape how billions of people access and deploy these technologies. The move also reinforces BRICS' founding purpose as a counterweight to Western economic and technological dominance.

Timing Amid AI Boom and Safety Concerns

The proposals arrive during a period of rapid advancement in AI capabilities, with companies releasing increasingly powerful models at an accelerating pace. Xi's statement did not address ongoing debates about AI safety, even as concerns about the technology's risks have intensified. Earlier in the week, a researcher with experience at both OpenAI and Anthropic stated that many industry professionals believe AI could pose existential risks to humanity by the end of the decade.

BRICS was originally established in 2009 with five founding members and has since expanded to include ten nations, representing a significant portion of the global population and economic output from developing countries.

These details were first reported by CNBC.