10 countries come together to draw up roadmap for Global South on responsible AI

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Under India's BRICS Presidency 2026, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) recently organised the first meeting of the BRICS Science Academy Forum 2026.

The virtual forum on the theme "Using AI for Sustainable Development and Strengthening Global South Cooperation" will feature 10 countries- Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Belarus. The science academies of Nigeria and Vietnam – participated to advance a joint declaration on responsible and equitable AI development.

The participating academies presented targeted recommendations to make the declaration more effective:

• China (Chinese Academy of Sciences) called for collaborative AI readiness criteria, scientific data-sharing frameworks, open-source infrastructure, and responsible AI evaluation mechanisms addressing bias, reliability, and local context
• Egypt (ASRT) emphasised the potential of AI for food security, healthcare, education, energy, and climate change, and called for greater investment in research, capacity building, and equitable AI deployment
• Indonesia emphasised the role of AI in disaster risk management, mitigating climate change, early warning systems, reduction of greenhouse gases, and sustainable agriculture.
• Ethiopia advocated higher education and research partnerships, as well as dedicated cooperation on cybersecurity, digital security and combating cross-border cybercrime
• Vietnam proposed the establishment of joint task forces, thematic working groups, and shared digital public infrastructure with joint training programs to address the gaps in AI skills
• Nigeria emphasised the importance of advancing the applications of AI for scientific innovation, governance, and national development priorities
• South Africa discussed the role of AI for future generations, expressed concerns about cost and social science dimensions, and supported open-source AI models
• Belarus emphasised the responsible use of AI, with a special emphasis on healthcare innovation, data security, and advanced cybersecurity measures in the AI era

The suggestions made in the meeting will be incorporated in the revised manifesto. Dr Brajesh Pandey, Executive Director, Indian National Science Academy announced that delegations from BRICS countries and partner countries will gather in person for the second meeting on 22-23 July 2026 at IIT Hyderabad, where the declaration is expected to be finalised.