Russia Teams Up with BRICS Nations to Form Global AI Alliance

In a bid to challenge the United States' dominance in artificial intelligence, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of an AI Alliance Network with BRICS nations and other interested countries. The initiative, unveiled at Russia's flagship AI conference in Moscow, will include collaboration with Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and additional partners like Serbia and Indonesia.

Goals of the AI Alliance Network

According to Putin, the network will unite national AI associations and development institutions from member countries to advance joint research in:

• AI technology development

• Regulatory frameworks for AI

• Market access for AI products across member nations

“Russia must participate on equal terms in the global race to create strong artificial intelligence. It is precisely the advanced solutions that Russian scientists are currently working on,” Putin said at the conference, inviting global scientists to collaborate.

Overcoming Sanctions and Technological Challenges

Russia’s AI ambitions face significant challenges due to Western sanctions, which have restricted access to critical AI hardware such as GPUs (graphics processing units). These sanctions have led to major microchip producers halting exports to Russia, complicating efforts to sustain its AI growth.

Sberbank, Russia's largest lender and a key player in the country’s AI development, has acknowledged these difficulties. CEO German Gref stated in 2023 that replacing GPUs remains one of the toughest hurdles for Russia’s AI industry.

Despite these challenges, Sberbank announced that the AI Alliance Network had secured participation from national AI associations in both BRICS and non-BRICS countries who joined the alliance, positioning the alliance to potentially mitigate resource and technological barriers through cooperative efforts.

Russia’s Long-Term AI Ambitions

Russia aims to significantly enhance AI’s role in its economy, targeting a GDP contribution of 11.2 trillion roubles by 2030. The collaboration with BRICS partners is a strategic step toward achieving this goal.

Putin emphasized the importance of advanced AI solutions as a cornerstone of Russia's future economic and technological growth. However, the country faces stiff competition from global leaders like the United States and China, with the U.S. recently appointing a "White House AI and Crypto Czar" to maintain its leadership in AI innovation.

What This Means

The creation of the AI Alliance Network reflects Russia’s push to build a robust AI ecosystem despite sanctions and limited access to critical hardware. By collaborating with BRICS countries and other partners, Russia hopes to pool resources, share research, and expand market opportunities for AI technologies.

This alliance could have significant implications for the global AI landscape. By fostering international collaboration, particularly among emerging economies, the network may accelerate AI development in member countries. This could reduce reliance on Western technology providers and create new competition for the United States and other established AI leaders.

Additionally, by creating alternative frameworks for AI regulation and market access, the alliance may complicate global standardization efforts, potentially diluting U.S. influence over AI norms and practices. While it remains to be seen how effective this collaboration will be, the alliance represents a deliberate attempt to challenge U.S. dominance in AI and shift the balance of power in this critical technology sector.

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.