ScienceModi warns against 'weaponising' technology and critical minerals as Xi pushes open-source AI cooperation
The exchange captures a central BRICS tension: members want deeper technology cooperation even as strategic control over chips, minerals and AI becomes more important.
THE INDIQA Research DeskPublished 14 Sept 2026Updated 14 Sept 20261 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned at BRICS against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals, while Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a BRICS open-source AI ecosystem.
The two positions are not contradictory, but they reveal the strategic context. Access to chips, rare earths, cloud infrastructure and advanced models is increasingly shaped by export controls and geopolitical competition.
India's challenge is to support wider access and collaboration without replacing one form of dependence with another. That means building domestic compute, mineral processing and research capability alongside international partnerships.
CIVIL SERVICES VIEWStudy this development
GS-IIGS-IIITechnology geopolitics, critical minerals and AI sovereigntyPrelims: HighMains: HighCore
Why this matters
BRICS leaders debated technology access, critical minerals and open-source AI cooperation.
Key facts
- Critical minerals are defined partly by supply risk and economic importance.
- Open-source AI refers to models or components made available under licences permitting access or modification.
Key terms
- critical minerals
- AI sovereignty
- export controls
- open source AI
- technology weaponisation
Background and concepts
BRICS leaders debated technology access, critical minerals and open-source AI cooperation.
Arguments, challenges and policy responses
- Technology sovereignty
- Critical-mineral supply chains
- Strategic autonomy in AI
India’s context
India's AI, clean-energy and defence ambitions depend on access to both compute and critical materials.
Keep in mind
Open source does not necessarily mean the entire AI training stack is transparent or free.
Practice question
Why is technological sovereignty becoming central to India's strategic autonomy?
Revision summary
- Critical-mineral supply chains
- Strategic autonomy in AI
- Open-source AI refers to models or components made available under licences permitting access or modification.
- Critical minerals are defined partly by supply risk and economic importance.
- Technology sovereignty
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