Whose Responsibility Is Responsible AI?

"Besides a minimum set of standards, each country must assume the responsibility to ensure that there is a coherent regulatory framework in place," Snene told The Secretariat on the sidelines of the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

Most of all, it should be ensured that the regulations are not breached

— Mehdi Snene, Head of AI, United Nations

With New Delhi now gearing up for the 18th BRICS Summit, issues related to the responsible use of AI will drive the discourse, prompting a shift from deliberations to a common, impact-driven policy framework. At the 17th BRICS Summit held in Brazil in 2025, deliberations on AI had taken the centre stage, with global leaders signing a declaration on the guidelines for fair and inclusive access to AI for all countries, emphasising the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and responsible AI.

On AI sovereignty and digital partnership for the future, Eugênio Vargas Garcia, Tech Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, highlighted that “developing countries should come together, like India and Brazil”, and pointed out that during an upcoming bilateral State visit between India and Brazil, the need to strengthen AI regulation and governance will be taken up.

India AI Impact Summit 2026

At the ongoing AI Summit 2026, policy leaders and delegates got together to underscore the significance of national regulatory systems to support responsible AI adoption in sectors, including health, education, and agriculture, while at the same time formulating international frameworks for global engagement.

AI governance is now a patchwork of initiatives; sometimes, they are not connected to each other

— Eugênio Vargas Garcia, Tech Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil

From governance to inclusion and digital cooperation, the global narrative has been shaped by the implications of responsible AI in economic growth and capacity building. On various occasions, stakeholders from across countries have come together to discuss AI development, its governance, and risks. At the global level, however, instead of defining a global framework for AI governance; instead, a minimum set of standards has to be first and foremost put in place, bringing all member states together, Snene points out. This calls for enhanced collaboration, bilateral dialogue, and a series of guidelines.

In the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem, global powers have been vying for dominance, but not in the traditional sense, as AI has been understood as a strategic leverage for military strength and economic sovereignty. AI has widely been considered as a soft power with a hard impact.