Summary of Key Points
During the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, the "Win-Win BRICS" forum focused on AI cooperation and governance among the BRICS countries and their partners.谢rov, the Vice President of the New Development Bank of BRICS, emphasized that AI is the "power" that drives economic growth, but it must be regulated and managed properly. The bank will prioritize the development of AI-driven digital finance and infrastructure, with successful implementations in projects such as smart hospitals in Brazil and subways and airports in China. The forum also released a range of outcomes, including an AI public product matrix, an industry upgrade report, and a compliance platform, all aimed at advancing practical cooperation in AI.
I. AI as the "Power" for Economic Growth, but with Regulation
Sherov compared AI to electricity: without it, modern economies cannot function; without AI, future economic growth will lack momentum. However, he stressed that AI should not grow uncontrolled and must be regulated, just like electricity requires metering. Each country needs to formulate its own regulatory policies. For example, the President of Kazakhstan is establishing a local AI center and planning an AI conference. The preliminary preparations for AI cooperation among BRICS countries are in place, and these initiatives will be gradually implemented. In particular, the digital finance models developed by the bank can be directly adopted by other countries.
II. New Development Bank of BRICS: Integrating AI into Digital Finance and Infrastructure
The bank has entered its second five-year plan, focusing on "AI + digital finance" and investing in AI infrastructure. Sherov explained that AI is not a standalone technology but rather a set of tools that can be used to build real-time monitoring systems, predict demand in advance, and assess the effectiveness of projects, making infrastructure more resilient and sustainable. For instance, they invested $320 million in a smart hospital in Brazil to develop an AI-based diagnostic and treatment platform, and similar investments have been made in subways in Qingdao, China, and Xi'an airports to optimize operations.
III. Case Studies of AI Implementation
- Brazil: The smart hospital received $320 million in funding from the bank to implement an integrated diagnostic and treatment platform using AI, which has increased annual patient visits by 70% and addressed issues such as long waiting times and uneven distribution of medical resources. This project serves as a model for future BRICS medical cooperation.
- China: The Qingdao subway line 6 uses AI and the Internet of Things to schedule trains and manage passenger flow, while Xi'an Xianyang Airport utilizes AI and digital twins to improve security checks and flight scheduling. Taiyuan Airport uses AI to optimize power distribution, complemented by solar and geothermal energy, working towards zero carbon emissions.
IV. Practical Steps Taken by the Forum
The forum provided a practical framework for AI cooperation, including:
- AI Public Product Matrix: A collection of tools and resources for countries to use in their collaboration.
- Industry Upgrade Report: An analysis of how ten major industries (such as manufacturing and healthcare) can be upgraded using AI, offering guidance to各国.
- Legal Compliance Platform ("Smart Navigation"): Helps Chinese AI companies understand foreign regulations and vice versa, preventing misunderstandings and mistakes.
- Cross-Border Data Recommendations: Ten guidelines for the secure exchange of AI data between countries, ensuring compliance when companies wish to share data internationally.
V. The Future: AI + Green Finance
The bank plans to integrate AI with green finance, with 40% of its investments going towards carbon reduction projects. Since AI data centers and computing hubs consume a lot of energy, the bank has adopted a nuclear power strategy by 2025 to provide stable electricity for these high-energy-consuming facilities, supporting both AI development and environmental sustainability.
Overall, this forum has moved BRICS countries' AI cooperation from conceptual discussions to concrete actions. Whether it's through project implementation or rule-making, the goal is to ensure that AI benefits all humanity. For ordinary people, this may mean faster medical consultations, smoother subway travel, and more efficient airports—all of which are facilitated by AI and BRICS collaboration.