Russia

Russia's AI strategy is heavily influenced by its focus on national security and defense. The country’s "AI Strategy 2030" emphasizes AI’s role in strengthening military capabilities, cybersecurity, and state surveillance systems. While the government promotes AI innovation in public services, healthcare, and industry, Russia’s AI development is notably centralized, with strong state involvement in key projects. Ethical concerns like privacy and human rights are less prominent in Russia’s AI discourse than in Western nations. Instead, the government prioritizes control and the strategic use of AI to maintain geopolitical influence.

Russia’s AI development strategy also aims to foster technological independence, reducing reliance on foreign AI systems and infrastructure. This self-reliant approach is driven by geopolitical tensions and sanctions, pushing Russia to develop homegrown AI solutions. While Russia’s AI innovations in defense and space exploration are impressive, the country faces challenges in fostering a broader AI ecosystem that balances innovation with ethical concerns. Compared to more liberal governance models in the EU or U.S., Russia’s AI policy is more authoritarian, focusing less on individual privacy and more on state-driven applications.

Scores for AI Policy Spectrum

Ethics (3/5): Ethical AI guidelines exist but are mostly focused on national security and government applications.

AI Safety (3/5): Russia has some regulations in place but lags behind in comprehensive safety policies.

Transparency (2/5): Low transparency in AI policy development, with limited public access to policy documents.

Data Privacy (2/5): Weak data privacy laws, with significant government control over personal data.

Innovation (3/5): Russia is investing heavily in AI, but it still trails behind global leaders in innovation.

Total Score: 13/25

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