Why the Global South will have more leverage than ever in the future of AI

Editor's note: Saxon Zvina, a special commentator for CGTN, is a Harare-based consultant who contributes to various media platforms. He is the principal consultant at Skyworld Consultancy Services and a member of Belt & Road Initiative Think Tank. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly becoming the defining technology of the 21st century, the question confronting the world is no longer simply who leads AI innovation, but who writes the rules that govern it.

Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined four proposals for global AI governance at the recent 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai: following the principle of openness and win-win cooperation while boosting innovation-driven development; strengthening risk awareness and ensuring that AI is secure and controllable; encouraging inclusiveness and promoting mutual learning among civilizations; and advocating solidarity and improving global governance.

For Africa and the broader Global South, these proposals represent more than diplomatic rhetoric. They offer a framework for transforming developing countries from passive consumers of AI into active participants in shaping its future.

The current governance landscape remains deeply imbalanced. Much of the world's AI infrastructure, computing power, frontier models and standard-setting institutions are concentrated in a handful of advanced economies. More than 100 UN member states – most of them from the Global South – have not participated in major international AI governance initiatives, while institutions dominated by developed countries continue to shape global norms.

That imbalance is increasingly being challenged.

Xi argued that AI should not become the exclusive privilege of a few countries. Increasingly, developing nations are demanding a seat at the table where AI rules are negotiated rather than being expected to adopt standards developed elsewhere. As international scholars have observed, China seeks not only to position itself as an AI innovator but also to promote a more inclusive governance model that gives developing countries a meaningful voice.

Africa illustrates why this shift matters.

Often described as the next frontier of AI development, the African continent possesses one of the world's youngest and fastest-growing digital populations. Studies suggest that accelerated AI adoption could contribute as much as $1.5 trillion to Africa's economy by 2030. Initiatives supported by the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme envision AI creating tens of millions of jobs while significantly expanding the continent's digital economy.

The strategic question facing Africa is therefore straightforward: Should it merely import AI systems developed elsewhere, or should it build its own?

Several African economies, including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa, have already begun developing national AI strategies aimed at reducing dependence on foreign technology platforms while strengthening domestic innovation ecosystems. The continent is gradually moving from being a consumer of AI to becoming a creator of AI solutions.

China's growing open-source AI ecosystem provides one possible avenue for that transformation.

Models such as DeepSeek and Qwen offer high-performance AI capabilities at significantly lower costs than many proprietary alternatives. Their adaptability allows universities, startups, research institutions and governments across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to develop localized applications in education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, public administration and indigenous languages. Access to open-source AI is not simply about reducing costs; it is about strengthening digital sovereignty and enabling countries to build AI systems aligned with their own development priorities.

Infrastructure remains equally important. Chinese companies have become significant partners in expanding Africa's digital foundations through investments in data centers, telecommunications networks and next-generation connectivity. Zimbabwe's High-Performance Computing Center, now supporting universities and scientific research, illustrates how expanded computing capacity can accelerate AI research across developing economies. Technical training initiatives, including AI and cybersecurity programs, are also helping cultivate the skilled workforce required for long-term digital transformation.

Capacity building formed a central element of Xi's WAIC address. China announced that over the next five years it will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries while establishing international AI application cooperation centers serving ASEAN, the African Union, the Arab League, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Latin American partners. Such initiatives reflect growing recognition that narrowing the global AI divide requires investment in people as much as technology.

Multilateral cooperation is also evolving. The establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), founded by 29 countries, represents an important step toward more inclusive international AI governance. Designed as an independent intergovernmental organization operating in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, WAICO aims to promote technology sharing, policy dialogue, capacity building and collaborative governance. For many developing countries, it offers an additional platform to influence international AI standards.

Importantly, the Global South including Africa can bring substantial leverage to these negotiations.

Their rapidly expanding markets represent the next major frontier for AI deployment. Their young populations will supply much of tomorrow's digital workforce. Equally significant are their data resources – from agriculture and biodiversity to climate and public health – which have become indispensable for training increasingly sophisticated AI models. As awareness of data sovereignty grows, these resources are becoming strategic assets rather than freely exported commodities.

Collective diplomacy further strengthens this position. Coalitions such as the Group of 77 and China have increasingly called for AI governance that delivers measurable capacity building, financing and equitable participation. African leaders are assuming more prominent roles in international AI discussions, reflecting the continent's determination to help shape, rather than simply implement, future governance frameworks.

Perhaps the most significant development is the emergence of "sovereign AI" – the idea that every country should retain the right to develop and govern AI according to its own laws, culture and national priorities. Rather than forcing nations to align with competing technological blocs, this approach emphasizes choice, diversity and respect for national circumstances. For many developing countries, preserving strategic autonomy while engaging multiple technology ecosystems offers a pragmatic path toward inclusive digital development.

The AI revolution is still unfolding, and its governance remains unwritten. Xi's four proposals – openness, security, inclusiveness and improved global governance – offer a vision for a more representative international framework. Whether that vision ultimately succeeds will depend on the willingness of all stakeholders to embrace genuine multilateral cooperation.

What is already clear, however, is that the Global South possesses greater strategic leverage than ever before. Their markets, talent, data, growing alliances and expanding technological capabilities mean they are no longer peripheral players in the AI era. If these assets are effectively mobilized, they can move from consuming AI to creating it, and from accepting rules to helping write them.

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