Like a digital brain

By: Roberto Morejón

As further proof of the potential of the BRICS group, the Alliance for the Development of Artificial Intelligence will emerge from this bloc of nations with emerging economies.

It should be remembered that this grouping had 10 members, but at the summit held in the Russian city of Kazan, 13 nations from three continents joined as associates, a step before becoming members.

According to the information, an international alliance of national associations and development institutes in the field of artificial intelligence from the BRICS countries and other interested states will promote cooperation in this field.

The launch will take the form of a conference in Moscow under the motto "Journey into the world of artificial intelligence", which will be sponsored by the countries initially involved in the alliance - Russia, Brazil, India, China, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The emergence of a structure designed to coordinate approaches to the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies places the group among the most prominent in terms of the number of companies in the research phase or in the application of artificial intelligence.

The project begins with laudable goals, including reshaping the unfairly unequal global technology landscape.

For the global South, it represents an opportunity to access the benefits of artificial intelligence, as the BRICS alliance aims to provide technical assistance and advice to economically disadvantaged nations. 

It is not a question of absolutizing the scope of artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science capable of developing programs that can take over some of the processes of human intelligence.

But the fact that machines can perform autonomous actions to achieve specific goals to make life easier is a hope.

However, humanity must exercise control over their development, as proposed by the BRICS.

There are already signs that some states intend to use this tool for the purposes of the arms race, invasion of privacy, disinformation and cyber-attacks.    

The global South is also concerned that these practices could widen the gap between the industrialized North and the poorest countries.

Nevertheless, there is hope that this BRICS venture will succeed for the benefit of many.