Putin’s Decree: Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Russia

Russia's AI Development Strategy: Putin's Decree

Vladimir Putin announced at an AI conference in Moscow over the weekend that he is about to issue a decree outlining Russia's strategy for the development of artificial intelligence. This strategy will involve legal changes, international cooperation, and increased investment.

"In the very near future, as one of the first steps, a presidential decree will be signed and a new version of the national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence will be approved," stated Putin.

The main focus of the strategy will be to expand research in the field of generative artificial intelligence and large language models. Putin emphasized the importance of advancing both fundamental and applied research in these areas.

However, one of the challenges Putin faces is the fact that many of Russia's top tech experts have left the country to avoid being drafted for the Ukraine war. To address this issue, Putin suggested providing Russian AI researchers with better access to supercomputers and improving the quality of scientific education in the field of AI.

"You cannot ban something. If we ban it, then it will develop somewhere else and we will fall behind," Putin warned. He expressed concerns that the West could potentially gain a monopoly on AI if Russia does not actively participate in its development.

Furthermore, Putin alleged that some Western online search systems and generative models have disregarded or excluded the Russian language and culture, effectively erasing Russia from their platforms. He emphasized the importance of considering Russian culture and ethics when addressing the ethical issues surrounding AI.

"In all spheres of our life, humanity is beginning a new chapter of its existence," Putin concluded. He urged the conference attendees to be proactive in shaping the future of AI to ensure that Russia remains competitive in this rapidly evolving field.