Aiming to redefine the balance of power in the technology era, the BRICS bloc is rapidly becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), a transformation spearheaded by China. According to the 2024 Stanford AI Index, China accounts for approximately 47.2% of the most cited scientific papers in AI and leads globally in AI patent filings.
This position is the result of the “Next Generation AI Development” initiative, which allocated over $150 billion to hardware, algorithms, large language models, and domestic chip development. Companies like Huawei and Baidu have cemented China’s position in competition with global tech giants such as Google and Meta.
Meanwhile, India has assumed a prominent role, pursuing AI governance grounded in public participation and an innovative ecosystem. India’s AI initiative, launched in 2023 with over $1.2 billion in funding, focuses on developing native language models, AI tools for agriculture, education, and healthcare, as well as domestic chip design. This effort could reduce reliance on Western AI models and position India as a key player in the multilingual AI space.
In Russia, political direction plays a decisive role in AI development. Since 2023, President Vladimir Putin has described AI as the “battlefield of the future,” linking its advancement directly to national security. Russia’s 2030 national AI strategy allocates roughly $1.2 billion to intelligent defense technologies, speech recognition systems, and industrial automation.
Beyond these three major powers, Brazil and South Africa have emerged as centers for applied and ethical AI innovation. Brazil’s Embrapa Research Institute leverages satellite imagery AI tools for agriculture, water management, and production efficiency, while South Africa’s CSIR conducts extensive projects in smart transport, digital health, and urban AI management.
Newcomer countries like Egypt and Ethiopia are also advancing digital governance by establishing AI centers, developing smart government infrastructure, and implementing initiatives like “Digital Nation,” which employ machine learning to enhance government service delivery.
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