Russia Joins BRICS to Challenge US Dominance in Global AI Race

December 12th 2024

Credit: Reuters

In Summary:

Russia has announced its plans to form an AI alliance with BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and other interested states, aiming to reduce reliance on Western technology and challenge the United States’ leadership in artificial intelligence. President Vladimir Putin declared the formation of the AI Alliance Network during Russia’s flagship AI conference, emphasizing Russia’s ambition to compete on equal terms in the global AI race.

The alliance, spearheaded by Sberbank and supported by Yandex, aims to foster joint research, regulatory collaboration, and market access for AI products across member nations. However, Western sanctions have hindered Russia’s access to critical microchips like GPUs, posing significant challenges to its AI ambitions. Despite these setbacks, Russia’s AI roadmap targets a seven-fold increase in AI investment and envisions 80% of its workforce acquiring AI skills by 2030.

Critics argue that Russia’s AI development lags behind not just the US and China but also other BRICS members like India and Brazil. Meanwhile, Russia’s closer collaboration with China could reshape global AI dynamics, raising questions about geopolitical power shifts and the ethical implications of technology-sharing across diverse political landscapes.

For the full article, visit the original post on: Reuters: Russia teams up with BRICS to create AI alliance, Putin says