President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russia plans to collaborate with BRICS partners and other nations to advance artificial intelligence, aiming to counter the United States’ leading position in this vital technology of the 21st century.

During Russia’s premier AI conference, Putin revealed that the newly formed AI Alliance Network would encompass national associations and development institutions focused on AI from BRICS nations and other interested countries.

“Russia must engage on equal footing in the global competition to develop advanced artificial intelligence. Our scientists are currently working on cutting-edge solutions,” Putin stated at the conference in Moscow. “We extend an invitation to scientists worldwide to participate in this collaborative effort,” he added.

Western sanctions aimed at limiting Russia’s access to essential technologies for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine have led major microchip manufacturers to cease exports to Russia, significantly hindering its AI initiatives.

Sberbank, Russia’s leading financial institution, is at the forefront of AI development in the country. However, Sberbank CEO German Gref admitted in 2023 that replacing graphics processing units (GPUs), which are critical for AI development, poses a significant challenge for Russia. On Wednesday, the bank announced that national AI associations from BRICS countries, including Brazil, China, India, and South Africa, as well as from Serbia, Indonesia, and other non-BRICS nations, have joined the AI Alliance Network.

The announcement indicated that the network would support collaborative research on technology and AI regulation, while also creating avenues for the sale of AI products in the markets of member nations.

RUSSIA AIMS TO COMPETE WITH GLOBAL LEADERS IN AI DOMINANCE

The United States and China currently lead the world in artificial intelligence capabilities, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointing a “White House AI and Crypto Czar” to maintain the nation’s status as the wealthiest and most technologically advanced country globally.

However, President Putin’s decision to partner with China may alter the competitive landscape of the AI sector. Russia is among ten nations, including the U.S., China, the UK, and Israel, that are actively developing their own generative AI technologies. According to Yakov and Partners, a consultancy founded by former McKinsey professionals in Moscow, this positions Russia to become a more influential player in the field.

The Russian government anticipates that the integration of AI technologies across various industries could contribute an estimated 11.2 trillion roubles ($109 billion) to the nation’s GDP by 2030, a significant increase from just 0.2 trillion roubles ($1.9 billion) in 2023. The country’s AI strategy also aims for 80% of the workforce to possess AI skills by 2030, up from 5% in 2023, with investments in AI projected to increase sevenfold to reach 850 billion roubles.

Sberbank, which has created a generative AI model named GigaChat, along with technology giant Yandex and its YandexGPT model, currently leads the domestic AI market in Russia.

On the Global AI Index by UK-based Tortoise Media, Russia ranks 31st out of 83 countries in terms of AI implementation, innovation, and investment, trailing not only the U.S. and China but also other BRICS nations like India and Brazil. Additionally, Stanford University’s AI vibrancy tool, which assesses 36 countries based on 42 AI metrics, places Russia at 29th.