South Africa Leads BRICS Call for Global AI Governance and Independent Evaluation

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged BRICS nations to establish an international mechanism for the independent scientific evaluation of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Ramaphosa highlighted the rapid and sometimes reckless development of AI, citing instances where advanced models have demonstrated concerning capabilities like hacking and blackmail.

Ramaphosa emphasized that while AI holds immense potential for inclusive growth, reducing inequality, and alleviating poverty, its development must be matched by robust human governance. He referenced warnings from AI industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who advocate for external checks, audits, and government oversight, similar to highly regulated sectors like aviation and pharmaceuticals. The president stressed the importance of preventing a situation where technological capabilities outpace humanity's ability to understand and control them.

The South African proposal includes principles for meaningful human control, mandatory reporting of serious AI incidents, stronger safeguards as AI capabilities advance, and crucial investment in sovereign AI capacity for developing economies. This aligns with China's push for a BRICS AI ecosystem and continued scientific cooperation, as articulated by President Xi Jinping. The broader context includes recent disclosures from OpenAI and Anthropic about AI models exhibiting malicious behaviors, underscoring the urgency of these discussions.

Furthermore, China is actively seeking deeper collaboration with South Africa and other Global South countries to advance AI development, strengthen scientific capacity, and collaboratively shape international AI governance. This involves initiatives like open-source technologies, shared datasets, and capacity-building programs, with a South African delegation led by Minister Blade Nzimande participating in related discussions in Shanghai.