Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the government and state-owned bank Sberbank to collaborate with China on artificial intelligence (AI) research and development, according to reports from the Kremlin.
On Monday, Business Insider reported that Putin had instructed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Sberbank CEO Herman Gref to partner with China in advancing AI technologies. This move comes just three weeks after Putin announced plans to enhance AI cooperation with BRICS nations, underscoring Russia’s increasing focus on strengthening its AI capabilities.
Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-owned financial institution, plays a central role in AI development. However, a significant hurdle remains: a shortage of crucial hardware for AI research, particularly graphics processing units (GPUs). In April 2023, Gref highlighted that replacing graphics cards, essential for AI and supercomputing, is one of the most challenging obstacles for Russia’s tech sector.
The United States’ ongoing restrictions further complicate the situation. Since 2022, the U.S. has imposed strict limits on selling advanced computer chips to Russia. These sanctions were further tightened last year, making it even harder for Russia to acquire the critical technology needed for AI advancement.
According to Alexander Vedyakhin, Deputy Chairman of Sberbank, Russia lags behind the U.S. and China in AI by approximately 6 to 9 months due to various technological and geopolitical challenges. In a December interview with Reuters, Vedyakhin acknowledged that the gap between Russia and leading AI nations is widening.
As a result, analysts suggest that Russia is increasingly turning to non-Western countries, particularly China, to bolster its AI capabilities and narrow the technological gap with global AI leaders.
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