Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that developing domestic artificial intelligence models is vital for maintaining Russian sovereignty, calling for the formation of a national working group to coordinate efforts against Western technological dependency and sanctions challenges.
Article contents:
- Introduction: Artificial intelligence as a matter of sovereignty
- Putin’s vision: A national AI working group
- Technological sovereignty and the risks of dependency
- The current AI landscape in Russia
- The need for national infrastructure
- Western sanctions and AI development challenges
- Economic goals and future ambitions
- Frequently asked questions
Introduction: Artificial intelligence as a matter of sovereignty
In a world where technology is increasingly important as a tool of influence and power, developing artificial intelligence is no longer merely an economic or scientific matter; it has become a fundamental pillar of national security and sovereignty. In this context, Russia is moving strongly toward developing its local capabilities in generative artificial intelligence, driven by a clear vision from its senior leadership to ensure technological independence.
Putin’s vision: A national AI working group
President Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for the formation of a national working group to coordinate Russia’s efforts in developing domestic generative artificial intelligence models. This call came during the “AI Journey” event, Russia’s premier artificial intelligence event, where Putin stressed the vital importance of these technologies for maintaining Russian sovereignty in the face of global challenges.
Technological sovereignty and the risks of dependency
Putin explained that large language models have become a major tool in information dissemination and are capable of influencing the opinions of entire nations. He added that relying on large language models designed in other countries is unacceptable for Russia.
Putin said: “For Russia, this is a matter of national, technological, and value-based sovereignty. Therefore, our country must possess a comprehensive set of its own technologies and products in the field of generative artificial intelligence.”
Putin also warned against the excessive regulation of artificial intelligence that could hinder innovation, but stressed the necessity of using only Russian models in areas of national security and intelligence gathering to ensure that sensitive data does not leave the country.
The current AI landscape in Russia
Although Russia lags behind the United States and China in the global AI race, it has achieved notable progress in developing its domestic capabilities. Two major large language models, GigaChat and Yandex GPT, have been developed by leading Russian artificial intelligence companies, Sberbank and Yandex.
Sberbank, which transitioned from a traditional bank into a tech giant, announced a new version of GigaChat on Wednesday and presented AI-powered products, ranging from humanoid robots to health-screening ATMs, to President Putin.
The need for national infrastructure
Putin stressed that the new working group must focus on developing data centers across the country and securing nearby energy sources, such as small modular nuclear power plants. Powerful computing infrastructure is essential for training and running advanced AI models, an area that requires massive investments and stable energy resources.
Western sanctions and AI development challenges
Russian efforts to expand computing capabilities and develop artificial intelligence face significant obstacles due to Western sanctions. The import ban on hardware, including advanced microchips vital for artificial intelligence, has complicated Russia’s endeavors to catch up technologically. This challenge is pushing Russia toward self-reliance and the search for domestic alternatives or partners in friendly nations to bridge the technological gap.
Economic goals and future ambitions
Putin set ambitious goals for the future of artificial intelligence in Russia, noting that contributions from AI-driven technologies to Russia’s GDP should exceed 11 trillion rubles ($136.57 billion) by 2030.
He called for the development of a national plan for AI implementation in addition to the working group, urging state institutions and corporations to increase the use of artificial intelligence in their daily operations. This vision places artificial intelligence at the heart of Russia’s economic development strategy for the coming decade.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why does Russia consider artificial intelligence a matter of national sovereignty?
re: Because large language models can influence public opinion and disseminate information, and relying on foreign technologies poses a threat to national security and Russian values.
Q: What are the most prominent Russian artificial intelligence models?
re: The most prominent models are GigaChat, developed by Sberbank, and Yandex GPT, developed by Yandex.
Q: What are the main challenges facing artificial intelligence development in Russia?
re: The biggest challenge is Western sanctions that prohibit the import of advanced microchips necessary to build powerful computing infrastructure.
Q: What is Russia’s economic goal for artificial intelligence by 2030?
re: Russia aims for the contribution of artificial intelligence to GDP to exceed 11 trillion rubles (approximately $136.57 billion) by 2030.
