Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Ramaphosa Urges Responsible AI Governance at BRICS Summit
Cyril Ramaphosa said countries should not panic about artificial intelligence.
He also said people should not let AI grow without careful rules.
He wants governments to understand the technology and help guide it.
Experts and technology leaders are debating how quickly powerful AI should be developed.
Some want safety testing and common rules to keep up with AI’s progress.
BRICS leaders said AI should be safe, secure, reliable and inclusive.
They also want developing countries to have a stronger voice in deciding how AI is used.
Ramaphosa praised India for helping BRICS members agree on a joint declaration.
South Africa is scheduled to host BRICS in 2028.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said AI should neither be feared nor developed recklessly.
He urged governments to understand AI, help shape its development and prevent the ecosystem from becoming uncontrolled.
The New Delhi Declaration called for AI that is safe, secure, reliable and inclusive, with greater international cooperation.
AI safety advocates including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk have called for stronger safeguards and coordination.
Ramaphosa praised India’s BRICS leadership and said South Africa will host the bloc in 2028.
- Who
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, BRICS leaders and major AI industry figures.
- What
- Ramaphosa urged responsible AI development, stronger human governance and international cooperation on AI safety.
- When
- After the BRICS Summit in New Delhi; South Africa is scheduled to host BRICS in 2028.
- Where
- The remarks followed the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Governments need to keep pace with rapidly advancing AI and prevent its development from becoming uncontrolled.
Stronger AI Safety Controls
Continued AI Development With Coordination
Pace of development
Stronger AI Safety Controls
Dario Amodei and other AI safety advocates argue that frontier AI development should be paced so safety measures can keep up with advancing capabilities.
Continued AI Development With Coordination
The broader technology-sector position described in the article supports continued AI development while pursuing coordination among leading companies and governments.
Role of governments
Stronger AI Safety Controls
Ramaphosa says governments should actively understand and shape AI, maintain human control and establish stronger safeguards.
Continued AI Development With Coordination
The BRICS approach emphasizes international cooperation and inclusion, including a greater role for developing countries in shaping AI’s future.
- Speaker
- Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa
- Summit location
- New Delhi, India
- AI position
- AI should neither be feared nor developed recklessly
- Governance proposal
- South Africa has called for an international mechanism for independent scientific evaluation of AI
- BRICS declaration
- The New Delhi Declaration supports AI that is safe, secure, reliable and inclusive
- South Africa’s BRICS hosting
- South Africa will host BRICS in 2028
- India-South Africa discussions
- The leaders discussed strategic partnership, trade, investment, scholarships and India’s space programme