Perspective: AIRussia’s AI Quest is State-Driven — Even More than China’s. Can It Work?
The Russian government, more than Western governments and more than China’s, is working hard to position itself as a facilitator and promoter of innovation in artificial intelligence. Vladimir Putin said that the technology will lead whoever masters it to global advantage. Samuel Bendett writes that “Those who doubt that this uniquely state-heavy approach can succeed would do well to remember that today’s internet and mobile telecommunications grew out of Pentagon-funded research, that the Soviet Union led the Space Race for a decade, and that U.S. astronauts currently ascend to orbit atop Russian rockets.”
The Russian government, more than Western governments and morethan China’s, is working hard to position itself as a facilitator and promoter of innovation in artificial intelligence. Vladimir Putin said that the technology will lead whoever masters it to global advantage.
Samuel Bendett writes in Defense One that
Those who doubt that this uniquely state-heavy approach can succeed would do well to remember that today’s internet and mobile telecommunications grew out of Pentagon-funded research, that the Soviet Union led the Space Race for a decade, and that U.S. astronauts currently ascend to orbit atop Russian rockets.
And even as it was putting the finishing touches on its national AI strategy, which calls for funding data management, education, and science initiatives across the country, Putin’s government was increasing its six-year budget for the campaign from $1.3 billion earlier this year to the roughly $6.1 billion announced when the strategy was rolled out in October.
Bendett notes that even senior Russian officials admit that the ambitious project faces obstacles – chief among them brain-drain and an anemic “start-up culture” retard technological breakthroughs. There are other obstacles: the “lack of innovation cycle” for the country’s young entrepreneurs, the absence of hi-tech infrastructure, financial support and legal frameworks.
Bendett writes:
At this point, the United States is in a unique position when it comes to AI—its private sector has since matured to the point where it can even dictate their terms to the U.S. military. However, other nations are pursuing different paths—with significant state support and funding, where private sector plays a minor, if growing, role.
Today, Russian state and society have embarked on a major experiment—jump-starting their hi-tech innovation culture. Equally important in the near future will be the development of the hi-tech private sector in Russia that is independent of state support, despite some of the difficulties it is encountering along the way.
