Russia together with BRICS aims to become competitive with the US in the field of artificial intelligence

(Patria) - President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday that Russia will develop artificial intelligence with BRICS partners and other countries in an attempt to compete with the US's dominance in one of the most promising and important technologies of the 21st century.

Speaking at Russia's main AI conference, Putin said that the new AI Alliance Network will include national alliances and development institutions in the field of artificial intelligence from BRICS countries and other interested states.

- Russia must participate equally in the global race to create strong artificial intelligence. Advanced solutions are precisely what Russian scientists are currently working on. We invite scientists from all over the world to join the cooperation - Putin said at the conference in Moscow.

Western sanctions intended to limit Russia's access to technologies needed to continue the war against Ukraine have led to major global microchip manufacturers suspending exports to Russia, seriously limiting its ambitions in the field of artificial intelligence.

Sberbank, Russia's leading lender which is leading AI development, announced yesterday that national AI alliances from BRICS countries - Brazil, China, India and South Africa - as well as from Serbia, Indonesia and some other non-BRICS countries have joined the AI Alliance Network.

The US and China are the world's leading artificial intelligence powers, and newly elected US President Donald Trump has appointed a 'White House AI and Crypto Tsar' to help ensure that the US remains the wealthiest and most technologically advanced power in the world.

But Putin's move to team up with China could change the dynamics of the artificial intelligence race. Russia is one of ten countries, including the US, China, the UK and Israel, developing its own generative artificial intelligence models.

Russia is currently ranked 31st out of 83 countries in AI implementation, innovation and investment on the UK-based Tortoise Media Global AI Index, far behind - not only the US and China, but also BRICS members India and Brazil.

Stanford University's Vibrancy AI tool, which ranks 36 countries based on 42 AI indicators including research and development, ranks Russia in 29th place.