Moscow, January 2, 2025 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government and Sberbank, the country’s largest bank and a leader in technological innovation, to collaborate with China on advancing artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative, which follows an AI-themed conference in December, aims to tap into China’s recognized expertise in AI to further bolster Russia’s own capabilities in the field.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Sberbank CEO Herman Gref have been tasked with leading the project, with a progress report expected by April 2025. The collaboration seeks to leverage China’s advancements in AI, which have established the country as a global leader in the field. Sberbank, which has drawn inspiration from China’s AI breakthroughs, has credited China’s progress with shaping its own AI aspirations.
China’s AI sector has made remarkable strides, with heavy investments aimed at achieving global leadership in the field by 2030. The country has pioneered AI across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation and leads in the number of AI patent applications. Between 2014 and 2023, Chinese entities filed over 38,000 generative AI patents, representing approximately 70% of global filings. Furthermore, China surpassed the United States in AI-related journal citations as early as 2020.
During the December conference, President Putin emphasized the need for Russia to accelerate its own AI development. He highlighted the importance of integrating AI into schools for enhanced student counseling and learning, as well as supporting local governments in adopting AI for public administration. Putin also noted the significant impact AI has had in reducing crime rates, with robberies down by 10.5 times and home burglaries reduced by 34.5 times.
In a significant step forward, Russia introduced its first AI textbooks for students in grades 5-9 in December 2024. These textbooks aim to provide students with a foundational understanding of AI, its applications, and its role in various industries. “Russia must become a world leader not only in creating but also in adopting and integrating artificial intelligence in all spheres of our life without exception,” President Putin stated.
