Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed the creation of a BRICS AI Open Source Zone as part of a wider push to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies among member countries.
Speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Xi said China would take the lead in establishing the proposed initiative, which would support cooperation in the development and application of large language models, AI training and the creation of a more open technology ecosystem.
The proposal forms part of China's broader initiative on open-source and inclusive AI and comes as BRICS countries look to strengthen technological cooperation across the Global South. Xi also called for a broader, consensus-based framework for global AI governance.
The AI Open Source Zone is a Chinese proposal and should not yet be treated as an established BRICS programme. Its implementation would require further cooperation among member countries, including decisions around participation, governance and the technologies that would be shared.
Xi's proposal reflects China's growing emphasis on open-source AI as an alternative route for expanding access to advanced models. Chinese companies have released several open models that can be adapted by developers, businesses and research institutions, potentially reducing dependence on closed proprietary platforms.
The proposed initiative would also include specialised AI research and training for BRICS countries. Such programmes could support countries seeking to build domestic AI capabilities without independently developing every layer of the technology stack.
The announcement follows China's broader efforts to position itself as a participant in global AI governance. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July, Xi called for greater international cooperation around AI development while emphasising open-source ecosystems, accessibility and measures to ensure advanced systems remain secure and controllable.
At the BRICS summit, technology was positioned within a wider economic cooperation agenda. Xi also proposed a partnership connecting special economic zones across BRICS countries and said China would host a BRICS Service Trade Forum in 2027. He called for greater coordination across industrial and supply chains and deeper economic integration among the expanded grouping.
BRICS now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa alongside Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, giving the grouping a wider presence across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
India, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, has similarly emphasised making technologies and development models created within the grouping accessible to other emerging economies.
The AI proposal adds another dimension to the growing competition over how artificial intelligence is developed, governed and distributed globally, particularly as developing economies seek greater access to models, infrastructure, skills and computing resources.
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