Putin orders major AI project

The Russian president set a 2030 target for AI integration across all sectors, from industry and logistics to energy and education

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to develop a national plan for the deployment of AI technologies, emphasizing that the accelerated adoption of AI is crucial for the country’s future.

Speaking on Friday at a meeting on AI development, the president called for faster integration of the technology in the economy and public administration, adaptation of education, risk assessment, and advances in defense and security, while also stressing the need to promote Russian solutions abroad.

“Artificial intelligence, along with digital platforms and autonomous systems, is shaping a fundamentally new image of the economy, social relations, the social sphere, education, healthcare, logistics and industry, defense and security — and indeed the entire life of the country,” Putin said.

Russia must develop its own artificial intelligence solutions for national defense and security, the president said, warning that the country’s sovereignty and very existence depend on its ability to keep pace with global change. 

“We must possess the most advanced technologies and rely on fully sovereign domestic products,” he stressed.

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AI is already reshaping the economy and social relations, Putin said, adding that Russia’s sovereignty depends on its ability to adapt to technological change. He also pointed to the rapid rise of language models and neural networks, which are showing increasing autonomy.

“These artificial intelligence agents are already approaching a new level of independence. They are learning to plan their actions, evaluate the results they achieve, and interact with people and the real world,” he said.