5 September 2024
Russia is
cementing its position as a leading nation in the development of artificial
intelligence technologies. Significant initiatives include the creation of an international
network of non‑governmental institutions aimed at promoting artificial
intelligence globally. That was the conclusion reached at a session entitled AI
Pivot in International Relations: Sphere of Conflict or Cooperation?, which
took place as part of the Eastern Economic Forum.
KEY
CONCLUSIONS
Russia has opted to pursue a strategy of developing
artificial intelligence in a manner that puts people first
“Prior to 2022, you would hear at any conference how our main goal was
for Russia to become one of the three leading powers in terms of the prevalence
of artificial intelligence technologies, and for AI to be used more here than
anywhere else on the planet. However, the events of 2022 demonstrated that
these goals need to be reassessed. <...> Russia must do a great deal to
adopt these technologies, and to show the socioeconomic and managerial benefits
that they bring. <...> We consistently frame the narrative in Russia that
technologies – including artificial intelligence – should improve the quality
of life of each and every citizen. This remains our top priority,” Sergey
Plugotarenko, General Director, Digital Economy.
“The forced spread of technologies in a way that clearly aligns with the
interests of transnational corporations (under the guise of lofty rhetoric
about environmental protection) is largely just a tool for creating a new
global neo-colonial system. Artificial intelligence could become a unifying
factor. We sincerely hope that rational forces will prevail, and that the
countries of the global majority will unite to compel the West to ensure a more
equitable distribution of the benefits in the interests of technological
development. <...> The proliferation and implementation of artificial
intelligence technologies are inevitable. The shift in this field that we are
witness to today should ultimately benefit the entire world, not just a select
group of countries. And above all, it should not be to the detriment of nations
struggling to break free from the dependency forged by former colonial powers,”
Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
PROBLEMS
The potential for artificial intelligence technologies
to be used to manipulate audiences
“Should certain products be banned or labelled somehow? Take deepfakes,
for example. There are three schools of thought on this matter: leave them
alone, turn them into an industry, or view them as potentially bad until things
are better understood. Another idea is to distinguish good deepfakes from bad
ones. Some argue for labelling deepfakes, while others suggest labelling real
information to differentiate between the two. However, right now we need to
turn on the light and identify which cats are black and which are white,” Elina
Sidorenko, General Director, White Internet; Director of the Center for Digital
Economy and Financial Innovation, Professor, MGIMO University; Member of the
Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of
Civil Society and Human Rights.
“In
addition to their purely operational functions, artificial intelligence
technologies can serve other purposes, acting in the interests of their
creators and operators. For example, they can manipulate the behavioural
patterns of their audience or generate deepfakes,” Vadim Glushchenko, Director,
Center for Global IT-Cooperation.
The substantial resources required to implement
artificial intelligence
“Supercomputers used for training artificial intelligence consume
increasing amounts of energy every year. The more we develop such technologies,
the more energy they require, and then we’ll be told that they will ultimately
help us save energy. In fact, the widespread implementation of artificial
intelligence and the energy management that goes with it are not reducing
energy consumption; they are driving it up. <...> We must also consider
the fact that data centres, in addition to energy, require cooling. And what is
needed for that? Fresh, clean water, which is becoming increasingly scarce – a
problem not just for this decade but for the entire century and even the
millennium,” Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of Information and the
Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
SOLUTIONS
Developing a technological foundation for a genuinely
sovereign form of artificial intelligence
“It is crucial to develop the technological foundation for a genuinely
sovereign form of artificial intelligence. This should be built using
domestically produced components and software, while reflecting the traditional
values of the global majority,” Maria Zakharova, Director, Department of
Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation.
“For Russia’s chairmanship [of BRICS – ed.] we have set the goal
of creating an international network of non-governmental alliances or national
development institutions for artificial intelligence. This would allow
developers to find colleagues, collaborate on research projects, invite each
other to conferences, and share experience in the fields of regulation and
ethics. <...> Initially we focused solely on the BRICS nations, and sent
out invitations accordingly. However, we then decided to also look beyond BRICS
and extend invitations to various countries worldwide. To date, 15 countries
have applied to join. <...> If the alliance is successfully established
this year, we will use this international platform to foster cooperation on
artificial intelligence at a non-governmental level, promote various
viewpoints, and encourage international cooperation and educational programmes
in many different countries,” Andrey Neznamov, Managing Director – Head of the
Human-Centered AI Center, Sberbank.
* This is
a translation of material that was originally generated in Russian using artificial
intelligence.
For more
information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical
System at roscongress.org/en
