BRICS Members Call for Stronger AI Safeguards at 2026 Summit

India hosted the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026 under the “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” theme. Leaders from the 11-member bloc emphasized their commitment to implementing global AI governance principles. The bloc also underscored the need for improved access to AI resources and improved international cooperation. 

During the 18th BRICS summit, members adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, a framework that sets out a technology roadmap for BRICS countries across domains like cybersecurity, AI , quantum computing, and digital infrastructures. 

What are the Details of the New Delhi Declaration 2026?

The declaration underscored AI’s immense potential to stimulate economic growth and drive sustainable development for all. The new framework supports coordinated and inclusive action in tackling emerging digital threats. These include cybercrime, misinformation, hate speech, disinformation, and the growing use of deepfakes.

Another key takeaway from the BRICS summit is the call for wider access to AI resources. The declaration called for stronger safety safeguards, with BRICS leaders committing “to implement the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.” The calls came as a recent report by Anthropic highlighted growing AI misuse. 

BRICS leaders also backed broader access to AI technologies and resources, while emphasizing the need for strong safeguards to ensure that AI systems remain safe, reliable and trustworthy. As part of advancing responsible AI development, the leaders pledged to implement the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence.

BRICS Summit in India Called for Expanded AI Use

The New Delhi declaration also pushes for expanded use of AI in science, research,  and innovation. The declaration also seeks to advance development of trustworthy AI technologies as well as reliable and energy efficient AI systems. 

It also emphasized the need to address the potential risks associated with the rapid advancement of AI technologies and ensure that its benefits are shared equitably. The declaration, which highlighted India's AI Impact Summit,  places particular emphasis on supporting countries in the Global South as part of ensuring a fair, inclusive and prosperous digital future.

During the summit, China committed to establish a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform. The platform is aimed at advancing digital skills training, promoting technological exchanges, and strengthening industrial alignment.

What are the Areas of BRICS Cooperation?

BRICS is a membership bloc of major emerging national economies namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Initially, the bloc focused on developing a common position on global political and economic matters while promoting sustainable economic development and shared prosperity. 

These priorities have served as a foundation for broader engagement among members. BRICS’ membership has expanded geographically across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America over time. 

Currently, the bloc comprises 11 member states, which collectively represent 49.5% of the world’s population. BRICS countries also represent 40% of the global GDP and 26% of the world’s trade. These statistics underscore the economic and demographic weight of the forum.