BRICS nations are calling time on tech giants—they want protection, fairness, and a level playing field in the AI gold rush.
Key Takeaways
- Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa at the Rio summit
- Urging stronger data protection to curb unauthorized AI training use
- Demanding fair pay for creators whose work trains AI models
- Aiming to challenge big tech’s imbalance in global AI governance
In a highly anticipated move at the Rio de Janeiro summit (July 6–7, 2025), BRICS leaders—representing more than half the global population—have united around a bold call to action on artificial intelligence.
They’ve spotlighted a growing concern: major AI developers, mostly based in wealthier nations, are harvesting massive datasets without compensating content creators or safeguarding personal privacy. In a draft communique, the group urged member nations to:
- Limit excessive collection of user data, preventing AI systems from hoovering up more than necessary.
- Mandate mechanisms for fair compensation—ensuring artists, writers, developers and other content creators get paid when their work is used to train AI.
This marks a clear signal from developing economies that the status quo—where a few tech giants dominate AI development—is no longer acceptable. By pushing for global standards that balance innovation with fairness, the BRICS bloc is staking its claim in AI governance.
In Rio, discussions also covered wider concerns, including trade protectionism and international diplomacy. But AI regulations stood out as a key priority—highlighting how deeply digital issues now cut across global geopolitics .
This isn’t just bureaucratic posturing. As AI brings automation, personalized services, face‑recognition tools, and more, data control becomes a battleground. The BRICS proposal could spark international agreement—or tension—with Western tech giants and regulators.
A successful push could:
- Encourage transparent AI training practices
- Support the rights and revenues of global creators
- Shift power toward a more equitable global AI landscape
But it also risks friction with firms used to open access to massive datasets—raising questions about how easy it’d be to enforce such rules—and whether they’d stifle innovation or represent fair guardrails.
BRICS leaders are stepping up: they’re questioning who really wins in AI’s data economies. With this draft, they’re staking a claim to shape—not just accept—the future of AI.