Putin Pushes Russia-China AI Alliance to Counter Western Tech Sanctions

Russian President Orders AI Collaboration with China Amid Western Sanctions

In a significant move to counter Western technological dominance, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian government and Sberbank to partner with China on artificial intelligence (AI) development. This directive comes as Russia seeks alternatives to Western technology in the face of sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.

The collaboration, announced shortly after the introduction of a BRICS AI Alliance Network, tasks Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Sberbank CEO German Gref with spearheading the AI partnership. A progress report on this initiative is expected by April.

Western sanctions have severely restricted Russia’s access to advanced technology and financial systems, forcing the country to develop parallel systems for various operations. The nation has struggled to find substitutes for Western technology, particularly in critical areas such as semiconductor chips, aviation parts, and medical products.

Sberbank CEO Gref has highlighted the challenges in replacing graphics cards for AI and supercomputers, a direct result of U.S. restrictions on the sale of advanced computer chips to Russia. Reports suggest that Russia is currently six to nine months behind the U.S. and China in AI development.

While a partnership with China in AI could help Russia overcome some technological barriers imposed by sanctions, it also raises concerns. China’s tight control over expression and the testing of AI models to align with “core socialist values” could potentially influence the nature and outcomes of this collaboration.

As Russia continues to navigate the challenges posed by Western sanctions, this strategic shift towards collaboration with China in AI development marks a significant step in its efforts to maintain technological competitiveness on the global stage.