Russia's Push for AI Independence: Putin's Big Move

Russia is making a significant stride to become more self-reliant in the realm of artificial intelligence. President Vladimir Putin has recently announced plans to establish a national task force dedicated to advancing Russia's own AI technology. Putin emphasizes that this initiative is vital for the country's future.

The Importance of AI in Public Opinion

Putin highlighted that AI, particularly large language models, plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion. He argued that depending on foreign AI technology is not an option for Russia. The objective is to gain complete control over their AI advancements.

Setting Up Data Centers and Local Energy Sources

The task force will focus on establishing data centers across Russia. They will also explore the use of local energy sources, such as small nuclear power plants, to support these centers. This strategy aims to reduce Russia's reliance on foreign technology.

Russia's Progress in AI Development

Despite being behind the United States and China in AI development, Russia has made some progress. Models like Gigachat and Yandex GPT, developed by major Russian companies Sberbank and Yandex, showcase the country's advancements. Sberbank recently unveiled a new version of Gigachat and demonstrated various AI-powered products to Putin.

Ambitious Economic Goals

Putin has set an ambitious target for AI's contribution to Russia's economy. He aims for AI to add over 11 trillion roubles to the country's GDP by 2030. To achieve this, he called for a national plan to implement AI widely and urged state institutions and companies to adopt AI technologies more actively.

Overcoming Western Sanctions

Western sanctions have posed challenges to Russia's expansion of computing capacity, blocking the import of essential hardware like microchips. Despite these obstacles, Putin remains determined to push forward with AI development.

Balancing Regulation and Security

Putin warned against over-regulating AI but emphasized that only Russian AI models should be used for national security. This ensures that sensitive data remains within the country.