AI Implementation by BRICS Member States

In 2025, artificial intelligence became a cornerstone of economic and social development within BRICS Plus. Following the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, AI was officially designated as a strategic focus, leading to the establishment of the BRICS Plus AI Research and Innovation Center with branches in São Paulo, Johannesburg, New Delhi, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran.

Supported with over $2 billion from the New Development Bank (NDB), this network advances projects in natural language processing, smart agriculture, climate prediction, and digital identity systems, while simultaneously strengthening member states’ infrastructure and human resources.

Practical applications are extensive: in Ethiopia, AI systems identify drought conditions and suitable irrigation lands; Iran uses it for managing medical supply chains and hospital readiness; Brazil, South Africa, and China utilize smart drones to monitor soil health and optimize fertilizer usage; India and Egypt have developed AI-based educational systems for national language learning.

However, limited access to data and computing power remains a major challenge for Global South countries. BRICS Plus has addressed this by creating a shared digital cloud platform, enabling secure storage and processing without reliance on Western infrastructure.

In addition to fostering indigenous AI development and reducing cultural bias, this platform hosts national datasets in health and education. BRICS Plus has also drafted a unified AI ethics charter to ensure fairness, transparency, non-discrimination, and public accountability.

Iran and Indonesia actively contribute to shaping standards that encourage innovation while preserving cultural identity and local values. Collectively, these investments and collaborations have transformed BRICS Plus from a mere technology consumer into a global influencer, providing context-adapted AI solutions to other developing nations while reducing dependence on Western platforms.