Russia Launches National AI Taskforce, Prioritizes Homegrown AI and Drones

Russia is establishing a national AI task force to bolster its technological and national sovereignty, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign AI systems. President Putin emphasizes that only Russian-designed AI should be used for national security and intelligence gathering. The task force will concentrate on building new data centers and securing reliable energy sources, including small-scale nuclear power stations, to support AI infrastructure. Putin anticipates AI technologies contributing over 11 trillion roubles to the country’s GDP by 2030. Despite lagging behind the United States and China, Russian firms like Sberbank and Yandex claim to have developed large-language models, including Gigachat and Yandex GPT. Russian authorities are also reportedly developing autonomous drones capable of operating in swarms and striking targets at distances of up to 100 kilometers. Ukrainian drone experts view these developments as potentially transformative for military operations, particularly with AI-enhanced targeting and coordination. Western sanctions, restricting hardware imports, have constrained Russia’s AI development, which the task force aims to mitigate through domestic production. The initiative reflects a broader trend of nations prioritizing AI sovereignty and national security.

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