Yesterday, Russia adopted its National AI Strategy until 2030
It's only available in Russian, see below for some notes on what's in the document
It's only available in Russian, see below for some notes on what's in the document
AI is "a complex of technological solutions to simulate human cognitive functions (incl self-study & searching for solutions without a predetermined algorithm) & to obtain results that are comparable, at a min, with the results of specific tasks of human intellectual activity"
Principles of the Strategy:
— protection of human rights & freedoms
— security
— transparency
— technological sovereignty
— innovation cycle integrity (link btw R&D & real economy)
— rational thrift (priority to impl & adaptation of existing measures)
— support of competition
— protection of human rights & freedoms
— security
— transparency
— technological sovereignty
— innovation cycle integrity (link btw R&D & real economy)
— rational thrift (priority to impl & adaptation of existing measures)
— support of competition
The Strategy emphasizes Russia's ambition "to become one of the international leaders in the development and use of AI technologies"
This is helped by strong STEM education, academic tradition, availability of coding skills, a growing data & AI community, Internet penetration
This is helped by strong STEM education, academic tradition, availability of coding skills, a growing data & AI community, Internet penetration
The Strategy briefly mentions int'l competition in the field of AI (para 16) — in the economic rather than geopolitical sense: few leading players in the global AI market seek to ensure their dominance & and to obtain long-term competitive advantages, creating barriers for others
Overall, despite global leadership aspirations, the strategy is mostly focused on domestic developments. References to the world beyond Russia are occasional & instrumental: like, inviting talent from abroad, participating in int'l conferences, academic exchanges, standardization
The goals of AI development in Russia (para 23) are to:
— ensure growth of welfare and quality of life;
— to ensure national security and law and order;
— to achieve sustainable competitiveness of the economy, including leading positions in the world in the field of AI
— ensure growth of welfare and quality of life;
— to ensure national security and law and order;
— to achieve sustainable competitiveness of the economy, including leading positions in the world in the field of AI
That said, it's primarily a civilian AI strategy, there are no mentions of national security or defense elsewhere
Two priority areas of development and use (para 20-22) are economy (cross-cutting through all industries) & social sphere (healthcare, education, gov't services)
Two priority areas of development and use (para 20-22) are economy (cross-cutting through all industries) & social sphere (healthcare, education, gov't services)
The objectives of the Strategy are to develop 6 components of AI infrastructure:
— R&D
— AI-based software
— quality & availability of data
— availability of hardware
— talent + public awareness
— regulation
Section on each of those include specific measures & indicators
— R&D
— AI-based software
— quality & availability of data
— availability of hardware
— talent + public awareness
— regulation
Section on each of those include specific measures & indicators
E.g., on regulation the Strategy envisions simplifying access to data (including regulatory sandboxes); setting conditions & procedures for AI testing; reducing export barriers for civilian AI solutions; standardization; developing ethical rules for AI/human interactions
The Strategy will be implemented through coordinated efforts of multiple stakeholders
On the gov't side this will be led by the Gov't commission on digital development
On the non-gov't side a new entity will be created to coordinate business community & research organizations
On the gov't side this will be led by the Gov't commission on digital development
On the non-gov't side a new entity will be created to coordinate business community & research organizations
More details on Russia's efforts in developing AI will be outlined in the federal project on AI that shall be drafted by gov't and the new entity by Dec 15; it will be incorporated into the Digital Economy national program (more here digital.ac.gov.ru)
Apparently, the adoption of the strategy was a bit of a surprise. I tweeted a couple of days ago that First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank expected it only in November
