Vladimir Putin expressed concern about the increasing use of artificial intelligence during a recent meeting with young teachers and students in Novosibirsk.
He suggested that in the future, AI could divide people into two categories: an intellectual elite — knowledgeable and responsible individuals — and those who simply press buttons without thinking about anything else. In his usual manner, he added: “And their gray matter gradually shrinks, like a shagreen leather. Boom-boom, you press the buttons, and everything pops out”.
Putin also asked a young scientist: “What threat does artificial intelligence pose to us?” In response, the scientist said: “I will be frank with you, you have nothing to fear.” To this, the president of Russia replied: “And I have never been afraid of anything.”
Novosibirsk region became the seventh region that Putin visited in recent months. Previously, he had been to Tatarstan, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Buryatia, Omsk, and Irkutsk Oblast.
Russia’s efforts in the field of artificial intelligence
In recent years, Russian authorities and institutions have made significant efforts to develop their own specialists in the field of AI. Vladimir Putin established a Presidential Commission on AI and revised national educational programs to focus more on this technology.
These steps are aimed at addressing the problem of the outflow of highly skilled technical specialists following the invasion of Ukraine. They rely on Russia’s traditional strength — the potential to upskill a population of about 140 million people.
Russia’s efforts in the field of AI are largely driven by the desire for technological sovereignty. The government aims for domestic AI models to be developed by local researchers, operate on domestic equipment, and reflect their own values.
This is intended to provide greater control over the technology and reduce dependence on external suppliers. At a November conference, Vladimir Putin stated: “For Russia, this is a matter of state, technological and, one can say, value sovereignty.”
Source: Firstpost
