Scholars call for inclusive governance rooted in “common but differentiated responsibilities.”
Brazil and China must lead an international cooperation effort — alongside other countries of the Global South — to confront the challenges posed by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the dominance of the sector by the United States, according to experts speaking Thursday (3) at an event promoted by the BRICS Policy Center and The Beijing Club event. In their view, building a more balanced global landscape requires inclusive governance grounded in the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.”
“I believe developed countries are overly focused on advocating strict AI regulations, mainly to set global standards and guard against ethical and privacy risks. On the other hand, developing nations are right to prioritize AI as a powerful engine for economic growth and digital transformation. They rightly fear that overly restrictive measures could stifle innovation,”
Youdan Xiao, professor at the Institute of Science for Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and head of research in science and technology policy, told Valor.
“To overcome these differences, we must build an inclusive governance framework based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities,” he continued. “I propose that developed countries lead research and development efforts while generously sharing resources with developing nations.”
Zhao Hai, director of the National Institute of Global Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, argued that effective cooperation among Global South countries could help prevent the widening of the technological gap between richer and developing nations.
“We’re at a critical juncture. If developed countries continue advancing AI applications while others are left behind, the digital divide will only grow,”
Mr. Zhao said, noting that most AI investment is concentrated in the U.S. and Europe.
“If we don’t like the consequences — if we fail to cooperate and miss this crucial opportunity — there will be serious consequences. That’s why I believe it’s vital for BRICS countries to invest heavily in new infrastructure — not just roads, bridges, and ports, but also digital infrastructure,”
he added.
Mr. Zhao stressed that BRICS nations must move beyond rhetoric and into concrete action on technology. AI and digital infrastructure will be among the key topics at the BRICS heads of state summit on July 6–7 in Rio. Mr. Zhao said member countries need to invest in high-speed connectivity, data centers, and cloud services — while also sharing technologies and human resources.
His message was echoed by Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, a researcher at the Global Academic Research Center at South Valley University in South Africa.
“The Global South, by its nature, does better when partnerships are built within its own ranks,”
she said.
Source: Valor International
