AI is New Nuclear: Russia Eyes Global Tech Dominance

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a new form of global influence, akin to nuclear technology, with countries possessing advanced AI capabilities poised for superiority this century. Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy CEO of Sberbank, a Russian tech conglomerate, stated that Russia is among the select seven nations with indigenous AI development, highlighting the formation of a new 'nuclear club' where national large language models are essential.

Russia aims to develop at least two or three original AI models, distinguishing them from retrained foreign alternatives, especially for critical applications like public services, healthcare, and education. Vedyakhin noted the difficulty of integrating confidential data into foreign models due to security prohibitions. He also acknowledged that Western sanctions complicate Russia's access to necessary technology, potentially widening the gap with leaders like the U.S. and China.

While U.S. and Chinese companies hold a substantial lead, Russia plans to compete by emphasizing the skills of its programmers and mathematicians to offset disadvantages in computing power and investment. Sberbank's GigaChat models are reportedly comparable to leading international counterparts. However, Vedyakhin cautioned against an "AI bubble," noting that the substantial investment required for AI infrastructure might not always yield timely returns due to rapid technological evolution.