A New Era of AI Governance: A New Cold War Over AI? The Impact of President Lula's "Multilateral Governance" Proposal at BRICS

1 "How BRICS Perceived the 'AI Shock'"

On the morning of July 5, international conference halls in Rio de Janeiro were filled with economic organizations and government officials from various countries. President Lula, taking the microphone at the opening ceremony, began by stating, "AI is generating productivity that was unimaginable a few years ago, while also potentially causing deep distortions in society," calming the audience.infomoney.com.br

2 Reasons for Promoting Multilateral Governance

The core of the speech was a call for BRICS to lead in establishing international rules to mitigate the side effects of AI. Lula criticized the existing model dependent on multinational corporations, stating, "Progress without cooperation only maximizes the profits of a few companies."opovo.com.br

3 Laying the Groundwork for a "New Development Model"

He continued by exemplifying sustainable agriculture and biofuels, expressing confidence that "we can initiate a green industrial revolution." In fact, Brazil's trade volume with BRICS in 2024 is expected to reach twice that of the EU.br.investing.com

4 Distance from the EU AI Act

While the EU AI Act passed by the European Parliament is built on "single market values," Lula's proposal emphasizes a "multipolar and inclusive" approach. Unofficially, Brazilian government sources express a desire to incorporate ethical standards rooted in the Southern Hemisphere.

5 BRICS11 Framework and Regulatory Alignment

The expanded BRICS now includes 11 countries. An official from India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology points out that "interoperability is key before common rules," exploring alignment with India's unique AI ethics guidelines. A South African expert analyzes that "the focus is shifting from mineral resources to data resources."

6 "Mixed Reactions" on Social Media

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag <#GovernançaMultilateralJá> emerged, with around 15,000 posts in 48 hours. Progressive voters welcomed it as "a reclaiming of leadership by the Global South," while conservative influencers criticized it as "state intervention killing innovation." Correio do Povo's breaking news post became the most shared.

7 Temperature Differences on YouTube and TikTok

The YouTube video of the forum broadcast recorded 28,000 views within 12 hours of its release (with a 94% like rate).
On the other hand, on TikTok, the "30-second digest" spread, with many sarcastic comments such as "leaning towards China" and "just talk in the end."tiktok.com

8 Public Opinion on Facebook

On InfoMoney's official Facebook post, while there were high praises like "stepping ahead of the EU," there were also cynical voices saying "infrastructure development should come before legal frameworks."facebook.com

9 Expert Perspectives: Risks and Opportunities

Professor Claudia Azevedo, a data ethicist at the University of São Paulo, warns, "Multilateral governance is ideal, but if led by countries with surveillance technologies, the risks increase." In contrast, a startup support organization at the Rio Institute of Technology evaluates it as "a reference framework for SMEs entering international markets."

10 The Trump Card of "AI x Food Security"

In his speech, Lula introduced examples of incorporating AI into regenerative agriculture. By diagnosing abandoned farmland using satellite data and machine learning, it optimizes reforestation. The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) is also preparing a pilot demonstration.

11 Data Sovereignty and Development Banks

According to a New Development Bank (NDB) official, they are considering expanding loan frameworks for data center construction and AI education. The expansion of funding scale with Argentina's membership is a background factor. This is closely linked to the data sovereignty strategy.

12 "Regulatory Diplomacy" Competition with the US and China

The US proposes a "Democratic AI Partnership," while China advocates for a "Global AI Governance Initiative." The BRICS proposal aims to differentiate itself by encompassing the demands of developing countries while positioned between the two.

13 Legal System Challenges—Cross-Border Algorithms

When AI model training data crosses multiple countries, privacy protection guidelines can conflict. A Ghanaian lawyers' association commented, "If BRICS rules incorporate relief provisions for emerging countries, it would be groundbreaking."

14 Private Sector Reactions

According to a survey by the Brazilian AI Association (ABIA), 78% of the 200 member companies responded that "investment decisions would be easier with multilateral standards." However, nearly half are concerned about "increased procedural costs."

15 Startup Case: Agricultural Drone Company Aegro

Aegro, based in Rio, predicts pest outbreaks using AI image analysis. If global standards are clarified, it would be easier to enter the Argentine and South African markets.

16 Voices from Civil Society—Privacy, Labor, and Bias

The NGO "Internet Sem Fronteiras" warned in a statement that it "could lead to mass surveillance." Labor unions demanded a "social safety net for employment changes due to automation."

17 Technology Community—Expectations and Concerns of the Open Source Camp

Brazilian open-source organizations expect it to be "an opportunity to promote domestic hosting over proprietary cloud APIs." Meanwhile, concerns about license compatibility remain strong.

18 Media Discourse—Strategies to Avoid Information Manipulation

Curbing the spread of deep fakes using AI is an urgent governance issue. VEJA magazine argued in an editorial to "enforce transparency through multilateral rules."veja.abril.com.br

19 Education and Skill Gaps

The Lula administration announced plans to incorporate AI literacy into compulsory education. As a policy to bridge the digital divide among the poor, it is linked to the public Wi-Fi plan.

20 International Politics: Linked with Security Council Reform

The proposal of AI rules within BRICS is also part of Brazil's broader diplomatic strategy to seek a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.apnews.com

21 Infrastructure Investment—Semiconductors and Energy

NDB has established new loan frameworks for semiconductor foundries and renewable energy, preparing for increased power demand during AI operations.

22 Case Study: South African Mine Monitoring

South Africa is introducing AI for mine safety monitoring. The rate of reducing occupational accidents has improved by 20%, introduced as an example of governance enhancement.

23 National Sentiment—Between Positivity and Skepticism

In a domestic public opinion poll in Brazil (Datafolha report), 55% supported "multilateral AI regulation," 30% prioritized "domestic law," and 15% said it was "unnecessary."

24 Future Roadmap

At the ASEAN meeting this October, Lula is scheduled to present the outline of the draft. The aim is to adopt it at the Durban summit next January.

25 Conclusion: Dialogue or Division

AI regulation could potentially reorganize the axis of conflict between "developed and emerging countries." If multilateral governance originating from BRICS is realized, there is a possibility that the economic center of gravity could shift to the Southern Hemisphere. The key to its success lies in how much democratic processes and transparency can be ensured. Lula's speech clearly marked the starting line for this.