Russia Partners with China to Advance AI Amid Western Sanctions

President Vladimir Putin has directed Russia’s government and its leading bank, Sberbank, to strengthen collaboration with China in artificial intelligence (AI), signaling a strategic pivot as Western sanctions limit Russia’s access to advanced technologies.

The Kremlin published the instructions on Wednesday, less than a month after Putin unveiled plans to collaborate with BRICS nations and other countries to advance AI development.

Strategic Partnership with China

Putin tasked the government and Sberbank, a central player in Russia’s AI initiatives, with ensuring "further cooperation with the People's Republic of China in technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence." This partnership aligns with Russia's aim to circumvent Western sanctions, which have hampered its ability to source critical technologies like graphics processing units (GPUs).

China, which ranks second only to the United States in global AI development, could provide Russia with the resources and expertise it currently lacks. By building this partnership, Russia seeks to challenge the U.S.’s dominance in one of the most transformative technologies of the century.

Sanctions and Their Impact

Since the imposition of Western sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, major microchip manufacturers have ceased exports to the country. This has created significant barriers for Russia’s AI development efforts. GPUs, essential for training and deploying AI systems, have proven particularly difficult to replace, as acknowledged by Sberbank CEO German Gref in 2023.

This shortage has stunted Russia’s progress in AI. On the Global AI Index by Tortoise Media, Russia ranks 31st out of 83 countries in AI implementation, innovation, and investment—well behind global leaders like the U.S. and China, as well as BRICS partners India and Brazil.

Russia’s AI Alliance Network

On Dec. 11, Putin announced the formation of a new AI Alliance Network aimed at fostering collaboration among BRICS nations and other interested states. The initiative seeks to unite specialists in AI research and development to bolster Russia’s technological capabilities despite its current resource limitations.

What This Means

Russia’s pivot toward China and other non-Western nations reflects a growing trend of strategic realignment in the global AI race. While the U.S. and China continue to dominate the field, countries like Russia are seeking alternatives to advance their own technological ambitions.

• AI as a Strategic Priority: Putin’s focus on AI underscores its importance as a key area of geopolitical competition. Collaboration with China could help Russia acquire advanced AI capabilities that Western sanctions have restricted.

• A Global AI Power Shift?: By involving BRICS countries, Russia may contribute to a more multipolar AI ecosystem. However, it remains to be seen whether these efforts can significantly close the gap with global AI leaders.

• Challenges Ahead: While partnerships with China and BRICS nations could offer new opportunities, Russia’s low ranking on the Global AI Index highlights the scale of the challenge it faces in catching up to more advanced AI nations.

Russia’s deepening AI collaboration with China signals a shift in its strategy to mitigate the impact of sanctions and compete in a technology critical to future global power dynamics. If successful, these efforts could reshape the landscape of AI development and influence the balance of technological power worldwide.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.