Ramaphosa Backs China’s Brics AI plan, warns against risks

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed support for China's proposal to create an Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem for BRICS nations at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India on 13 September 2026. During the summit, Ramaphosa called for a cooperative, safe and inclusive framework that promotes technology sharing among the Global South, specifically mentioning AI, climate change and sustainable development as key areas of focus.

He emphasized the importance of developing economies being better prepared to handle future global shocks.

Ramaphosa proposed the establishment of an international mechanism for the independent scientific evaluation of AI within BRICS, which would be governed by principles such as meaningful human control, mandatory reporting, and reporting of serious incidents. These safeguards, he argued, should be progressively strengthened through capability increases and simultaneous investment in sovereign AI capacity for developing economies.

Ramaphosa warned that AI must be harnessed responsibly to drive inclusive growth while mitigating potential risks that could surpass human control. He cited examples of AI systems capable of cyber operations, biological weapons assistance, mass surveillance, and autonomous action, stressing the need for human governance to keep pace with AI development.

Ramaphosa acknowledged industry leaders like Dario Amodei of Anthropic, who advocate for external checks, audits, and government authority over AI companies. He stressed that oversight in other industries, such as aviation, pharmaceuticals, nuclear power, and finance, serves as a precedent for ensuring human understanding, supervision, and control of technological advancements.

The president linked AI developments to broader BRICS cooperation in resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable growth, praising India's focus on disaster risk reduction. He also highlighted ongoing initiatives like the BRICS Vaccine Research Centre and the Intelligent Telescope and Data Network, both of which contribute to medical sovereignty for the Global South.

In the financial sector, Ramaphosa advocated for expanding the New Development Bank, encouraging the use of local currencies, and strengthening cross-border payment systems. As BRICS enters its third decade, he urged the organization to be more ambitious in its efforts.