ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BRICS+ COUNTRIES: INNOVATIONS AND BUSINESS PRACTICES

Abstract

Amid accelerating digital transformation and growing challenges to sustainable development, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key driver of structural change in the global economy. This issue is particularly significant for the BRICS countries, which, on the one hand, are centers of economic growth and technological experimentation, and on the other, face social, environmental, and institutional constraints. The purpose of this article is to analyze the role of artificial intelligence in ensuring sustainable development in BRICS countries through the lens of innovation in business and management practices. The paper examines the development of AI ecosystems in BRICS countries, the impact of the digital economy on multilateral cooperation, and the opportunities and risks of applying AI in the context of green innovation, corporate governance, and economic policy. The study's methodological framework is based on systems and comparative analysis, a synthesis, and a critical analysis of scientific publications by Russian and international authors on artificial intelligence, the digital economy, sustainable development, and green innovation. A qualitative analysis of theoretical and empirical research, as well as an interdisciplinary approach, is used. It has been established that artificial intelligence in BRICS countries is an important driver of green innovation, improved management effectiveness, and the transformation of business practices. At the same time, institutional, social, and ethical risks associated with the implementation of AI are identified, including security threats, uneven distribution of benefits, and unintended consequences of economic policy. The study concludes that it is necessary to formulate coordinated strategies for the development of artificial intelligence in BRICS countries, focusing on sustainable development principles, institutional coordination, and the responsible use of digital technologies in business and management.