Putin urges Russian AI advancements, warns against Western monopoly

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has highlighted the need to prevent Western dominance in Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, stressing the imminent approval of an expansive AI strategy for Russia.

Speaking at an AI conference in Moscow alongside Sberbank CEO German Gref, Putin highlighted the necessity of an ambitious AI strategy for Russia to counterbalance the advancements led by China and the United States, reported Reuters.

The transformative potential of AI, likened to the impact of computers in the late 20th century, has prompted global leaders and researchers to recognise its potential to reshape society.

However, Russia's aspirations in the AI realm faced setbacks due to the conflict in Ukraine, causing a migration of skilled scientists out of the country. Additionally, Western sanctions hindered high-tech imports, hampering Russia's technological advancements in this sphere.

Putin underscored the impossibility and risks of attempting to ban AI while cautioning against allowing Western platforms to monopolise AI technology. He stressed the need for a presidential decree to endorse an updated national strategy, indicating forthcoming significant modifications aimed at augmenting fundamental and applied research in generative AI and extensive language models.

The President outlined the urgency for legislative and investment alterations to propel Russia's AI development, acknowledging the imperative role of policy changes and investments in fostering progress in this field.