In the fall of 2025, Brasilia will become the epicenter of a major debate about the future of technology and cultural identity. The second BRICS Forum "Traditional Values" will be held in the National Congress building in the capital of Brazil from September 15 to 17. The event will bring together politicians, business leaders and experts from the member countries of the association, as well as partner states. The key topic will be the search for a balance between technological progress and the preservation of the unique cultural code of nations.
One of the central speakers of the forum will be the representative of Ethiopia, Dr. Negeri Lencho, a member of the National Parliament. Mr. Lencho is the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, Labor and Technological Issues. His extensive experience, including leadership of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the post of Minister of Public Relations, as well as academic work at the University of Addis Ababa, makes him an ideal candidate to discuss such a multifaceted issue.
As part of the eventful program of the forum, Dr. Lencho plans to take an active part in several strategic round tables. His focus is on sections dedicated to the regulation of artificial intelligence, building a system of trust between BRICS entrepreneurs based on common values, and humanitarian cooperation.
Of particular interest to the international community is the upcoming speech by an Ethiopian parliamentarian at a round table on artificial intelligence. In his report, he intends to highlight an extremely relevant issue: how advanced technologies can be used not to dilute, but to protect traditional values and strengthen the national sovereignty of states.
It is planned that in his speech Dr. Lencho will touch upon the acute challenges of our time, which are faced not only by Ethiopia, but also by many other countries of the world. We are talking about a total information war, the massive spread of deepfakes — hyperrealistic fake images and videos — and other sophisticated manipulative technologies capable of destabilizing society and undermining trust in government institutions.
As the main solution to these problems, the representative of Ethiopia will propose that the BRICS member countries step up their joint work to develop common international standards in the field of AI regulation. In his opinion, only together can we create effective ethical standards and coordinate efforts for the safe and predictable introduction of breakthrough technologies.
A separate section of the speech will be devoted to the concept of digital sovereignty — the right of a state to independently determine policy in cyberspace, protect its digital assets and citizens' data from external interference. Dr. Lencho will emphasize the importance of preventing unfair technological competition and the need to develop equitable digital knowledge exchange between the countries of the global South.
The practical priorities for Ethiopia itself in this area will be the adaptation of artificial intelligence in two key areas for the nation — education and healthcare. According to experts, these areas are the foundation for the sustainable development of the country's human capital.
As Negeri Lencho himself notes, in the current era of rapid technological leap, it is precisely such associations as the BRICS that should set an example of consolidating efforts for the ethical and responsible regulation of new technologies. He is confident that the protection of traditional foundations and state sovereignty today directly depends on the ability to work closely internationally and develop common rules of the game in the digital sphere.
The complexity and truly global nature of the challenges posed by artificial intelligence do not recognize national borders. Therefore, regional and international cooperation is becoming not just relevant, but vital. Ethiopia, for its part, supports the creation of a unified AI management framework within the framework of the BRICS, which would comprehensively take into account legal, ethical, infrastructural and technological aspects. Only such an approach, according to Dr. Lencho, will make it possible to turn the power of modern technologies to the benefit of all peoples and future generations.
The participation of such a high-ranking and competent representative of Ethiopia in the BRICS Forum eloquently demonstrates the country's firm intention to influence the global technology agenda by upholding the principles of digital sovereignty and cultural diversity.
