Brazil Leads BRICS Global Declaration on AI Governance as National Ecosystem Reorganizes — The Outlook of the Last 24h

As the world debates who will dominate artificial intelligence, Brazil has just taken on a global leadership role in defining how this technology should be governed. The BRICS declaration on AI, released yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, is not just another diplomatic document — it is a manifesto that could redefine the rules of the global technology game.

BRICS Proposes New World Order for AI

THE Specific statement on artificial intelligence released by BRICS leaders goes far beyond good intentions. The document sets out fundamental principles that can influence how AI is developed and implemented globally.

The central points of the declaration include:

• Governance based on the UN Charter: A multilateral approach that prioritizes national sovereignty
• Protection of intellectual property: Mechanisms to prevent unauthorized use of data for AI training
• Inclusion of emerging markets: Ensuring effective participation of developing countries
• Environmental sustainability: Focus on minimizing the environmental impact of AI
• Protection of labor rights: Special attention to the impacts on the labor market

What strikes me is the balanced approach. It’s not about stifling innovation, but about ensuring that it happens in a fairer and more sustainable way. In my experience with startups, I’ve seen that companies that grow with social impact in mind from the beginning tend to be more resilient and valuable in the long run.

Lula Confronts Global Technological Monopoly

The most impactful statement came from President Lula, who stated that AI “cannot be an instrument of manipulation in the hands of billionaires”. This sentence sums up a global concern that goes beyond diplomacy: the concentration of technological power.

Lula defended a “fair, inclusive and equitable” governance model, directly confronting the resistance of big tech companies like Google and OpenAI to fair remuneration mechanisms for content used in AI training. It is a courageous position that could set important precedents.

What does this mean for the Brazilian ecosystem? We are seeing the country position itself as a leader in defining rules that can influence how AI startups develop globally. This can create significant competitive advantages for Brazilian entrepreneurs who are already born aligned with these guidelines.

Impact on National Innovation

The timing couldn’t be better. While Brazil is leading global discussions, our internal ecosystem is reorganizing itself to take advantage of AI opportunities.

UnB Launches the Country’s First Bachelor’s Degree in AI

THE University of Brasilia announced the creation of the first bachelor's degree in AI in Brazil, scheduled to start in 2026. This initiative represents a milestone in the training of specialized talents.

What impresses me is the strategic approach of UnB. They not only created a course, but established the Integrated Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence (CenIA) and the Committee for Artificial Intelligence and Supercomputing. It is a systemic vision that combines training, research and infrastructure.

For entrepreneurs, this means a future pipeline of specialized talent. In my experience accelerating startups, the availability of qualified technical talent is often the main bottleneck for growth. This initiative could be a game-changer for the Brazilian ecosystem.

Legal Sector Faces Efficiency Paradox

Meanwhile, the Brazilian legal sector is experiencing an interesting paradox. According to Thomson Reuters report, only 22% of legal organizations have a clear AI strategy, even with clear efficiency gains.

The data is telling: AI can save professionals five hours a week, but most organizations still don’t know how to leverage it strategically. This is a huge opportunity for startups developing industry-specific solutions.

What I see here is a common pattern: technology advances faster than the organizational capacity to absorb it. This creates windows of opportunity for entrepreneurs who can bridge the gap between technology and real business needs.

Brazilian Startups Show Practical Applications

Two initiatives caught my attention for showing how AI can be applied in an innovative and purposeful way:

AI in the Service of Health and Social Causes

THE startup IAcolabora is revolutionizing the management of clinics and hospitals with impressive gains: 27% increase in query conversion and 31% reduction in rework. Most importantly, respecting the LGPD and CFM standards.

At the same time, the Sou da Paz Institute launched an innovative campaign using AI to raise awareness about gun violence, creating the character MarIA from the traits of women who have lost loved ones.

These examples show something fundamental: AI is not just about operational efficiency, but about creating significant social impact. It is exactly the kind of innovation that Brazil needs to differentiate itself globally.

Democratization of AI Tools

THE CNN Brasil highlights five AI tools for photo editing that are democratizing capabilities previously restricted to specialized professionals. Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Remini, Cleanup.Pictures and Luminar Neo are making professional editing accessible to anyone.

This democratization creates both opportunities and challenges. For entrepreneurs, it means that technical barriers are rapidly decreasing. For established professionals, it means that they need to evolve into higher value-added activities.

What This Means for Brazilian Entrepreneurs

We are living in a unique moment in the history of Brazilian technology. The country is assuming global leadership in AI governance, creating specialized educational infrastructure and developing innovative practical applications.

For startups, this presents some specific opportunities:

• Regulatory Advantage: Brazilian companies that are already aligned with BRICS guidelines can have global competitive advantages
• Specialized talents: Investing in training will create a pipeline of qualified professionals
• Strong domestic market: Sectors such as healthcare and legal show pent-up demand for specific solutions
• Purpose as a differentiator: Focusing on social impact can be a global differentiator

The challenge is to execute. As the State, mastering effective commands (prompts) is essential to taking advantage of AI. But it goes beyond that: you need to understand how to integrate these tools into consistent business strategies.

The Future is Collaborative, Not Competitive

An interesting reflection appeared in the Humanitas Institute at Unisinos on the place of spirituality in the age of AI. The article proposes an ecological approach where “human, artificial intelligences and other entities interrelate in hybrid ecosystems”.

This connective vision is crucial for entrepreneurs. AI will not replace humans, but it will require new ways of collaborating. Startups that can create these collaborative bridges will have significant advantages.

Conclusion: The Brazilian AI Moment

The past 24 hours have seen Brazil in a unique position: leading global discussions on AI governance while building solid domestic capabilities. It is a moment that could define our position on the global technology stage.

For entrepreneurs, the message is clear: it’s not just about using AI, but doing so strategically, ethically and with purpose. The opportunities are there, but they require systemic vision and consistent execution.

In my mentoring, I help startups understand how to position their AI solutions not only for the Brazilian market, but for a global context where our country is taking on a leading role. This is a historic moment that we cannot waste.