China wants to create a BRICS open-source AI ecosystem. Where does India fit?

Source: The Indian Express | Original Published At: 2026-09-14 05:07:03 UTC

Key Points

• Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a BRICS open-source AI community involving shared large language models, training resources, and digital cloud infrastructure.
• The proposal is linked to BRICS cooperation on global AI governance and could be advanced when China assumes the BRICS chairship in 2027.
• China has promoted open-weight AI models such as DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen as affordable and accessible options for developing countries.
• The initiative remains a proposal; no formal BRICS open-source AI platform has been established, and summit documents do not specify models, hosting, data handling, or participation details.
• India is developing domestic AI capacity through the IndiaAI Mission while also seeking broader access to compute, datasets, models, and AI infrastructure for developing countries.
• The article notes US-China AI competition, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei arguing that global AI pacing discussions would need engagement with China.