Work

An inclusive BRICS AI strategy empowering small, medium and micro enterprises

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping global economies and geopolitics, influencing global power dynamics with significant implications for the BRICS and BRICS Partner countries in how they approach this economic tipping point (Kubasova and Chepinoga, 2023; Pitukhina et al., 2024; Trabelsi, 2024). These implications drive what many call an AI arms race between the United States of America (USA) and China, which are competing for technological and military dominance (Rokvic, 2024). However, these new systems have the potential to drive innovation and economic growth but are impeded by uneven access. For instance, in December 2024, the USA’s Open AI released a new usage tier costing US0 per month per user, which was coupled with their advanced AI features (OpenAI, n.d.). This exorbitant pricing model excludes much of the developing and emerging world. Furthermore, Open AI CEO Sam Altman described 2025 as the year when AI agents join and transform the workforce (Altman, 2024), significantly disrupting the relationship between labour and capital.

Source: Human Science Research Council SA

DOI: 10.14749/32360037

Author: Human Sciences Research Council

Language: English

Topic: Globalization, Economics, and Policies

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: Human Sciences Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W7162066331

FWCI:

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: