Russian President Vladimir Putin has unveiled an initiative to establish a national task force on artificial intelligence — a structure intended to coordinate the efforts of the state and private sector in the AI domain. The announcement, made at the AI Journey conference in Moscow, reflects the Kremlin’s intention to strengthen its technological position amid ongoing international isolation.

Putin emphasized that reliance on foreign language models may pose risks to information security, particularly for states with limited access to global IT ecosystems. According to him, the development of a “sovereign” AI infrastructure would allow Russia to avoid dependence on external solutions that may be seen as politically or ideologically vulnerable.

Such concerns appear reasonable against the backdrop of a global debate over who controls data and algorithms — although in Europe, similar issues are usually addressed through regulation rather than isolation.

One of the key tasks of the new AI task force will be the development of national data-processing infrastructure. Plans include expanding the network of data centers and securing stable energy sources for them. Among the options being considered are small modular nuclear reactors — a solution Russia presents as part of its long-term energy strategy.

However, European experts note that such projects will require time, funding, and access to technological equipment — factors complicated by existing sanctions.

Despite these technological constraints, Russia already has several domestic language models on the market, including GigaChat and Yandex GPT. At the AI Journey conference, new AI-based products were showcased, ranging from service robots to medical terminals.

Nevertheless, according to analysts, Russia still significantly lags behind the United States, the EU, and China in computing capacity and research capabilities.

Putin stated that the contribution of artificial intelligence to the national economy could exceed 11 trillion rubles by 2030. Moscow expects accelerated adoption of AI across industry, transport, healthcare, and the financial sector.

In Europe, such forecasts are viewed more as indicators of political priorities than as guaranteed scenarios; experts highlight that the feasibility of these plans depends on technological availability and an open innovation environment.

Sanctions have severely limited Russia’s access to modern microchips and high-performance GPUs — key components for training large models. This makes the goal of strengthening technological sovereignty particularly challenging.

European analysts believe that Russia is forced to develop its own solutions under conditions of increasing isolation, while the global AI industry is moving toward integration and cooperation. Putin noted that AI regulation should not “slow down development.” However, he simultaneously called for restrictions on the use of foreign models in strategically important sectors. This approach illustrates a distinctly Russian combination of interest in innovation and a consistent emphasis on state control.

#RUSSIA

20.11.2025 10:38