Putin Calls for Deepened AI Cooperation with China
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government and Sberbank, the country's largest bank, to deepen cooperation with China in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), according to Reuters, citing a report published on the Kremlin's website.
The instructions, issued Wednesday, come three weeks after Putin announced Russia's plans to collaborate with BRICS partners and other nations on AI development.
Putin's directive to Sberbank, which is leading Russia's AI initiatives, calls for "ensuring further cooperation with the People's Republic of China in technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence."
Western sanctions imposed on Moscow have significantly impacted Russia's AI ambitions by restricting access to crucial technologies, including microchips. The US and its allies have halted exports of advanced microchips to Russia, severely limiting its AI development capabilities.
Sberbank CEO German Gref acknowledged in 2023 that graphics processing units (GPUs), the specialized microchips essential for AI development, were the most challenging hardware for Russia to replace.
By partnering with non-Western countries like China, Russia aims to challenge the US's dominance in AI, a technology deemed crucial for the 21st century.
Putin previously announced the creation of a new AI Alliance Network, bringing together experts from BRICS nations and other interested countries. Russia currently ranks 31st out of 83 countries on the UK-based Tortoise Media's Global AI Index, trailing not only the US and China but also fellow BRICS members India and Brazil.