Science & Tech · AI · 1 hr ago
Scholar urges Global South to move beyond supplying AI raw materials
Vijay Prashad, head of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, spoke at a forum in Beijing on October 11 about how developing countries can benefit from artificial intelligence.
He said access to electricity is a basic barrier, noting that some people in Kenya cannot get power or charge their phones.
Without reliable infrastructure, people cannot readily use computers or AI.
Prashad said China’s advances in technology show that leadership in advanced fields need not belong only to Europe and the United States.
He argued that AI should help countries produce more goods and services, not be limited to tools for generating content or finance.
He also said countries in the Global South should move beyond supplying materials such as copper and lithium and take part in developing and using technology.
How to turn technological progress into opportunities that these countries can use and help shape remains a challenge.
Vijay Prashad said the Global South should move beyond supplying raw materials for artificial intelligence and become a user and driver of the technology.
He said access to electricity remains a basic barrier to AI use in some parts of Kenya.
Prashad argued AI should help increase the production of goods and services, not be limited to content generation or financial technology.
He said China’s progress in advanced technology challenges the assumption that the field can be led only by Europe and the United States.
The remarks were made at a forum in Beijing on 11 October.
- Who
- Vijay Prashad, executive director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
- What
- He urged Global South countries to become users and drivers of AI, rather than only suppliers of raw materials.
- When
- 11 October 2026.
- Where
- The main forum of the Mingde Strategic Dialogue (2026), hosted by Renmin University of China in Beijing.
- Why
- He said countries need infrastructure such as electricity and should use AI to improve production and services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Mingde Strategic Dialogue (2026) main forum in Beijing discussed how developing countries could share in the opportunities of technological progress.
China News Service published its report on Prashad’s remarks.
- Speaker
- Vijay Prashad
- Forum
- Mingde Strategic Dialogue (2026)
- Host
- Renmin University of China
- Example country
- Kenya
- Raw materials cited
- Copper and lithium
What people are saying
It is not just that there is no electricity to use, but also no way to charge a phone, no way to use a computer at night, let alone artificial intelligence.
There must be this spirit of collective self-reliance.
Sources
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