Russia has unveiled decisions to team up with BRICS nations and other countries to establish a global alliance in artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to challenge U.S. dominance in this transformative technology. President Vladimir Putin shared the initiative during Russia’s flagship AI conference, emphasizing the significance of international partnerships in advancing AI capabilities.
This proposal of the AI Alliance Network is likely to connect national associations and development institutions from BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—along with other interested nations. This network is designed to foster collaboration on AI research, regulation, and market access for innovative technologies.
“Russia must participate on equal terms in the global race to create strong artificial intelligence,” President Putin stated in his keynote speech. He lauded the advanced solutions developed by Russian scientists and extended an invitation to researchers worldwide to join the alliance. “We welcome scientists from all over the world to engage in this collaboration,” he said.
The initiative comes as Russia grapples with restrictions imposed by Western sanctions, which have limited its access to critical technologies, including the microchips essential for developing cutting-edge AI systems. Following the sanctions, major chip producers ceased exports to Russia, significantly complicating its AI advancement efforts.
Despite these challenges, Russian innovation in AI has been championed by the country’s dominant financial institution, Sberbank. However, Sberbank CEO German Gref acknowledged that access to graphics processing units (GPUs)—the backbone of AI systems—remains a major obstacle for Russia.
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Positive impacts of this AI Alliance
- Sberbank noted that the alliance aims to foster joint research on key aspects of AI development and regulation while opening member markets to cutting-edge AI products.
- It positions BRICS and its allies as a counterweight to Western dominance in AI, with a vision of advancing shared technological sovereignty and global inclusivity in the sector.
- As Russia looks to strengthen its position in the global AI race, this alliance underscores a strategic pivot towards multilateral collaboration, bridging geopolitical divides to achieve scientific progress.
In a significant development, the AI Alliance Network has already gained traction, bringing together national AI associations from the BRICS bloc and nations such as Serbia and Indonesia. The inclusion of non-BRICS countries signals a broad effort to unite global partners in creating an alternative framework for AI innovation.