Key Points
- Putin has directed Sberbank and the government to collaborate with China on AI development.
- Western sanctions have limited Russia’s access to GPUs, which is critical for AI advancement.
- Russia plans an AI Alliance Network with BRICS countries and other partners. The move seeks to challenge U.S. dominance in the global AI sector.
- Russia ranks 31st globally in AI innovation, lagging behind many nations, including BRICS peers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the government and Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, to strengthen collaboration with China in artificial intelligence (AI). This directive, published on the Kremlin’s website, follows Putin’s recent announcement to work with BRICS nations and other allies to advance AI technologies.
Sberbank, a leader in Russia’s AI initiatives, has been tasked with deepening technological research and development ties with China. This move is critical to overcoming the challenges posed by Western sanctions.
The sanctions, aimed at curbing Russia’s technological capabilities amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, have significantly restricted access to advanced microchips, including the graphics processing units (GPUs) essential for AI development. Global microchip producers have ceased exporting to Russia, leaving the nation scrambling to source alternatives. In 2023, Sberbank CEO German Gref acknowledged that GPUs remain a particularly difficult resource to replace.
By fostering partnerships with non-Western nations, Russia aims to counter the United States’ dominance in AI, a field widely regarded as pivotal for future technological and economic progress. Putin recently announced the creation of an AI Alliance Network designed to bring together experts from BRICS countries and other interested nations. This initiative underscores Russia’s intent to build a global coalition in AI research and innovation, leveraging the strengths of its allies.
According to Tortoise Media’s Global AI Index, Russia currently ranks 31st out of 83 countries in AI innovation, implementation, and investment. This position places it behind global leaders like the United States, China, and BRICS peers India and Brazil. Strengthening ties with China, a dominant force in AI, could provide Russia with the technological expertise and resources it urgently needs to advance in this competitive domain.