Russia's National AI Strategy Takes Shape

Offering the best hints yet about the upcoming national artificial intelligence strategy, Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined several pragmatic lines of effort: training programs, public-private cooperation, legislative support, efforts to build on Russia’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) strengths. 
 
Somewhat surprisingly, he also suggested that the government would seek to enshrine and protect new intellectual property and citizens’ rights. 
 
President Putin ordered his government apparatus to create a national artificial intelligence strategy by June 25th. With that date quickly approaching, the world is waiting to see Russia’s AI plans. The key areas highlighted by Putin for Russia’s AI development include:
 
Training initiatives
• Legislative support
• Public-private cooperation
• Efforts to advance Russia’s STEM strengths
 
Putin spoke of the need to ensure “the readiness of society, citizens for the widespread introduction of such technologies. It is, therefore, necessary to provide widespread digital education, to launch retraining programs.”
 
An increased need for AI funding was also touched upon. Putin said cash will need to be invested from both the state and investors through public-private cooperation. “Russia should become one of the key platforms for solving complex scientific problems with the participation of scientists from around the world,” declared Putin.
 
In his speech, Putin declared that the crucial condition for AI development is “the readiness of society, citizens for the widespread introduction of such technologies. It is therefore necessary to provide widespread digital education, to launch retraining programs” in certain professions.
 
More funding is also necessary, Putin said, both from state coffers and by wooing investors through public-private cooperation. For the former, Putin and his ministers raised the possibility of investing up to $1.4 billion in domestic AI development in the next several years. He called upon Russian companies to join AI efforts, and said he was personally ready to talk to any company that was hesitant.
 
The increased funding will spur “the creation of fundamentally new reserves, mathematical methods, principles of operation of artificial intelligence, including, by analogy with the human brain,” Putin said. “Russia should become one of the key platforms for solving complex scientific problems with the participation of scientists from around the world.” 
 
He said some of this work can be organised or performed at international mathematical centers, like the ones slated to open next year in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sochi.
 
Perhaps responding to concerns about intellectual property rights in Russia, and the related emigration of talented IT developers, Putin said that “it is necessary to guarantee reliable protection of intellectual property, legal conditions for the registration of patents in the national jurisdiction of Russia.”
 
Putin also called for new legislation to foster AI, and to ensure the rights of citizens and their safety. “It is fundamentally important to tune our legislation to a new technological reality, quickly and efficiently form a flexible, adequate legal basis for the development and use of artificial intelligence-based application solutions, as well as special regimes for private investment in creating breakthrough solutions,” he said.
 
Ultimately, the Russian leader said, his country must at the least develop “technological sovereignty” in AI: “This is the most important condition for the viability of our business and the economy, the quality of life of Russian citizens, the security and defense capability of the state.”
 
Putin also reiterated his belief that AI will offer unprecedented power, including military power, to any government that builds a big enough lead in the technology. 
 
“Mechanisms of artificial intelligence provide real-time fast decision-making based on the analysis of huge amounts of information, which gives tremendous advantages in quality and effectiveness,” he said 
 
“If someone can provide a monopoly in the field of artificial intelligence, then the consequences are clear to all of us: he will rule the world.” 
 
In the quest for AI, he said, Russia has “good starting conditions and serious competitive advantages.” These include its “traditionally strong scientific and educational schools in mathematics and physics, on a competitive system of training specialists in the field of IT,” and “one of the highest global penetration rates for mobile communications and the Internet.” 
 
These have fostered world-class scientific research and products, “including in such areas as computer vision and voice recognition, as well as cybersecurity,” he said.
 
Defense One:        AI News
 
You Might Also Read:
 
China Dominates Global Investment In AI:
 
Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Drones (£):
 
 
 
« A New Age of Warfare
The Human Cost Of Cyberwar »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

NextLabs

NextLabs

NextLabs provides data-centric security software to protect business-critical data and applications.

Markel International

Markel International

Markel International is an international insurance company which looks after the commercial insurance needs of businesses. Specialist services include Cyber Risk insurance.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Netherlands

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Netherlands

NCSC Netherlands coordinates enhancing the cyber resilience of the Netherlands in the digital domain.

Silicom Denmark

Silicom Denmark

Silicom Denmark is a premier developer and supplier of FPGA-based interface cards for cyber-security, telecommss, financial trading and other sectors.

UK Cyber Security Forum

UK Cyber Security Forum

UK Cyber Security Forum is a community interest group for cyber security companies in the UK.

Igloo Security

Igloo Security

Igloo Security is a leader and pioneer in SIEM (Security Information & Event Management), PSIM (Physical Security Information Management) and MSS (Managed Security Services).

Maritime Cybersecurity Center (MCC)

Maritime Cybersecurity Center (MCC)

Maritime Cybersecurity Center is a not-for-profit organization focused on regional cybersecurity excellence and readiness, with a special emphasis on the maritime community.

Online Business Systems

Online Business Systems

Online Business Systems is an information technology and business consultancy. We design improved business processes enabled with robust and secure information systems.

CloudAlly

CloudAlly

CloudAlly provides online cloud to cloud backup and recovery solutions, which backs up daily changes in your SaaS to unlimited Amazon S3 storage and makes it available for restore or export.

NSO Group

NSO Group

NSO Group develops technology that enables government intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate terrorism and crime.

SkillCube

SkillCube

SkillCube is one of the pioneers in India focusing on Cyber Security Skill Development Solutions.

Center for Education & Research in Information Assurance & Security (CERIAS)

Center for Education & Research in Information Assurance & Security (CERIAS)

CERIAS is one of the world’s leading centers for research and education in areas of information and cyber security.

Jamf

Jamf

Jamf is the only Apple Enterprise Management solution of scale that remotely connects, manages and protects Apple users, devices and services.

CyberArmor

CyberArmor

Cyber Armor defend everyday IT and OT systems, from government agencies to critical infrastructure, from system integrators to small industries.

Air IT

Air IT

Air IT are a responsive, client-focused and award-winning Managed Service Provider, helping clients achieve success and transformation through their IT and communications.

Recon InfoSec

Recon InfoSec

The Recon InfoSec team includes analysts, architects, engineers, intrusion specialists, penetration testers, and operations experts.