Russia Seeks to Build Sovereign AI With “Correct Values” — CCD

Russia is planning to create a sovereign artificial intelligence system that will adhere to the Kremlin's traditional spiritual and moral values, according to Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, as reported by UATV English. Russian developers will need to ensure that the AI model aligns with the values endorsed by the Kremlin.

The specific criteria for evaluating the system's thought process are set to be established jointly by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and Ministry of Digital Development. Earlier, Russia had announced plans to develop an AI system trained on the works of writers and ideological figures like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Alexander Dugin, arguing that the country requires a model devoid of foreign Western values.

The Center for Countering Disinformation highlighted that Russia currently depends heavily on Western technologies while simultaneously advocating for restrictions on them. This perspective suggests that, in the Kremlin's view, "sovereign" implies not merely an independently developed technology within the country, but one that is completely under state control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already enacted legislation governing artificial intelligence within the nation. The Ukrainian agency suggested that the subsequent phase involves ensuring that Russia's AI is not only under domestic control but also ideologically consistent with the Kremlin's worldview. This development is part of Russia's broader strategy to mold its information environment, including the utilization of AI-generated content in disinformation campaigns directed at Ukraine and Western populations.