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

Russia is making a bold move to become more independent in the world of artificial intelligence. President Vladimir Putin recently announced plans to create a national task force. This team will focus on developing Russia's own AI technology. Putin believes this is crucial for the country's future. Putin pointed out that AI, especially large language models, plays a big role in shaping public opinion. He argued that relying on AI technology from other countries is not an option for Russia. The goal is to have complete control over their own AI advancements. The task force will work on setting up data centers across Russia. They will also look into using local energy sources, like small nuclear power plants, to support these centers. This approach aims to make Russia less dependent on foreign technology. Russia is behind the United States and China in AI development. However, the country has made some progress with models like Gigachat and Yandex GPT. These were created by major Russian companies, Sberbank and Yandex. Sberbank recently unveiled a new version of Gigachat and showcased various AI-powered products to Putin. Putin set an ambitious target for AI's contribution to Russia's economy. He wants 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. He also urged state institutions and companies to adopt AI technologies more actively. Western sanctions have made it harder for Russia to expand its computing capacity. These sanctions block the import of essential hardware, like microchips. Despite these challenges, Putin is determined to push forward with AI development. Putin also warned against over-regulating AI. However, he emphasized that only Russian AI models should be used for national security. This ensures that sensitive data stays within the country.