PM Modi flags ‘weaponisation’ of tech; Xi announces open-source AI for BRICS

On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that "the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals” could hinder progress and underlined the need for "inclusivity", Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday announced that Beijing would lead the creation of an open-source AI ecosystem for BRICS member nations.

Modi's remarks are seen as an oblique reference to Beijing's control over the critical mineral supply chain and the US-China leverage battle over access to technology. He was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day BRICS Summit, with Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among other leaders, in attendance.

In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Xi called upon BRICS leaders to work towards writing a "new chapter of strength through unity for the Global South", and asserted that the logic that "might makes right" should have been discarded long ago.

Putin, in his address, urged the Global South countries to "jointly advance better (global) governance structure and tackle both traditional and non-traditional security threats.” Addressing the BRICS leaders’ outreach summit, attended by the grouping’s full member countries as well as its partner countries, Modi said the trust of Global South countries in BRICS has grown because their voices are heard and their experiences are respected.

He said that with rising global tensions impacting lives, the emphasis is on enhancing resilience within the bloc. In this context, he announced a slew of initiatives — BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for prevention of and response to infectious diseases, BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework, BRICS Incubator Network, Startup Innovation Fund, BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, Urban Mobility Hub, and Centres of Excellence for Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture.

"The BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture will create new opportunities for farmers. Through this initiative, AI, geospatial technology, and Digital Public Infrastructure will be connected to the real needs of farmers. The weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can hinder our shared progress.

Therefore, we have emphasised inclusivity in the adoption of technology," he said. “I can say from personal experience that the trust of Global South nations in BRICS has grown, because within BRICS, their voices are heard.

Their experiences are respected. And solutions are created with them, not merely for them,” he said. Framing the global situation, he said: “Tensions across the world are constantly rising, having a significant negative and far-reaching impact on the lives of ordinary people… Pandemics, climate disasters, and supply-chain disruptions have demonstrated that in today's interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region.

That is why we have placed special emphasis on enhancing resilience within the BRICS group. Identifying challenges in time, preparing for them, and taking immediate action are equally essential,” he said. “With this mindset, a consensus has been reached on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases.

Guidelines for Early Warning Data Integration regarding disaster management have been formulated. The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework will help make our supply chains more reliable and resilient,” he said.

“Today, this hall brings together diverse continents, cultures and developmental journeys. This stands as a testament to the growing strength, appeal, and unprecedented trust associated with BRICS… The strength of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation,” he said.

“Under India's chairmanship, we have focused all our efforts on four pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. I am pleased that, with your cooperation and support, we have been able to transform our shared vision into a win-win collaboration,” Modi said.

“By advancing along these four pillars, we have endeavored to foster inclusive global growth through BRICS. This is because we believe that the benefits of solutions developed within BRICS should not be limited to the bloc alone; they should be made adaptable and accessible to meet the needs of the Global South,” he said.

Under the pillar of innovation, he said the BRICS Incubator Network would connect start-ups and incubators. “We have proposed a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund to promote innovative and scalable solutions,” Modi said. Underlining that India has advanced the spirit of friendship, partnership, and cooperation through the BRICS platform, Modi said, “We have endeavored to ensure that BRICS cooperation is not limited to governments alone; we want our entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, youth, and ordinary citizens to become active participants as well.” Elaborating on the open-source AI proposal, Xi, in his address, said: "China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community, support cooperation in developing and applying large language models, hold specialised AI seminars and training courses, and build an open ecosystem for AI." China has partnered with around 30 countries to establish the World AI Cooperation Organisation.

Beijing is focusing on establishing a cost-effective international AI ecosystem based on open models, unlike major US developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which rely on closed frameworks. The five-point initiative, Xi said, is aimed at boosting cooperation in manufacturing, trade and technology across member states.

The initiative focuses on establishing an inclusive artificial intelligence framework, facilitating trade and investment, deepening digital industry ties, advancing "intelligent manufacturing," and launching a joint science and technology development initiative.