Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

When addressing the plenary sessions of the 17th BRICS Summit on Sunday and Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said China will create an initiative for the digital development of the Global South within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, with a plan to offer 200 training programs in the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) for Global South countries over the next five years, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

With global AI governance at a critical juncture, this commitment underscores China's sense of responsibility as a leader in AI development and is also essential for building a more equitable and reasonable international order to address the complex challenges posed by emerging technologies.

The global AI governance landscape is facing a pressing situation. Western countries, led by the US, are trying to strengthen their dominance in the AI field. With their deep-rooted technological accumulation, they seek to aggressively shape rules and standards primarily to serve their own interests and demands.
 
This pursuit of one-sided rule-making marginalizes and subordinates developing countries, severely impeding their independent development in the digital technology sphere. As a result, developing countries are likely to encounter increasing difficulties and challenges in acquiring advanced technologies, participating in rule-making, and bridging the digital divide.

Moreover, the US' efforts to establish AI technology rules and order exhibit a distinct fragmentation, particularly by targeting China as its main competitor. China has made rapid progress in AI technology and has become a significant force in the global AI arena. However, driven by its hegemonic ambitions, the US seeks to exclude China from the rule-making frameworks it dominates. 

This deliberate fragmentation, epitomized by export controls on critical semiconductors and the formation of so-called tech alliances, severely damages the integrity of global supply chains. More critically, developing countries have to navigate a fractured technological landscape, which exacerbates the challenges for them in developing AI technologies.

It is against this background that the statement, agreed upon by BRICS leaders on Sunday at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, described AI as a "unique opportunity" for driving inclusive growth, innovation and sustainability while warning that without fair governance, it could widen the digital gap. This consensus is a powerful response to the dilemmas in global AI governance, reflecting the profound concerns of emerging market economies and developing nations. 

AI development cannot be the exclusive domain of a few Western countries; therefore, it is increasingly vital for the Global South to assert its voice, contribute to a more equitable framework for AI development, and ensure that the benefits of this transformative technology are shared more broadly across the globe.

In this context, China's initiative for the digital development of the Global South is a timely, proactive response to this urgent collective need. By organizing training programs in the digital economy and AI for the Global South, China has built a broad platform for them to enhance their AI capabilities. This initiative aims to help Global South countries cultivate their own AI professionals and improve their technological research and development (R&D) levels so as to enable them to make their voices heard in the global AI governance landscape. 

The participation of the Global South in AI governance can lead to fairer and more reasonable rules that take into account the needs of countries at different development stages. Both developed and developing countries can find their positions in AI governance and share the benefits brought by AI development.

In addition, the initiative is conducive to promoting the inclusive development of global AI technology. Countries in the Global South can enhance technology sharing, engage in joint R&D, and promote industrial cooperation. Through these collaborative models, more nations can strengthen their AI capabilities, contributing to the establishment of a diverse and symbiotic technological ecosystem. 

Developing countries can implement AI application projects tailored to their specific needs, such as intelligent irrigation in agriculture and remote medical diagnostics, thereby improving development quality and elevating living standards for their populations. 

In conclusion, the future of AI should not feature starring performances by a few countries but provide a "chorus" with the participation of all. Only by adhering to open cooperation and mutual benefit can we break technological monopolies and avoid divisions into camps, and make AI truly a powerful driving force for global common development.