Mikhail Mishustin chairs strategic session on AI development

Mikhail Mishustin chairs strategic session on AI development

Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:

Good afternoon, colleagues,

The President has issued instructions on updating the
National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for the period
until 2030. We must make amendments which include, in part, the implementation
of a package of measures aimed at the nationwide implementation of AI
technologies in the economy, the social sphere and in state governance.

We held an in-depth discussion on these issues at the
July meeting with the President.

AI-based products help enhance the efficiency of
entire economic sectors and advance them to a fundamentally new level. These
products are widely used for data analysis, forecasting, process optimisation,
industrial automation, and the launch of convenient and useful services for
people and businesses.

It is extremely important for these products to be
created in Russia.
This is necessary for ensuring our independence from foreign suppliers and for
strengthening national security. This will also create additional opportunities
for people and businesses.

Today, global players are fighting to take the lead in
the technological race, often using unfair competitive practices. Efforts are
being taken to hinder Russia’s
access to advanced technologies. However, it is of the essence that our
producers have adjusted to this situation.

The market for AI products and technology reached
nearly 650 billion roubles last year, an increase of approximately 18 percent.

About a thousand Russian companies are working in this
area and are on the register of innovation companies.

Unlike many other countries, global-level products are
manufactured here. For example, both Yandex and Sber have launched their own models
of neural networks.

The rate of artificial intelligence use in the
economic sectors is at about 20 percent right now, with the top one being the
financial sector where 95 percent of enterprises use these technologies.

Of course, the potential is much higher, and we need
to attract the business community more actively to fully implement it. We will
definitely continue to provide state assistance.

In total, 5.2 billion roubles are being allocated from
federal funds for the development of artificial intelligence next year.

The next very important area is the development of
scientific institutions related to these technologies. Today, there are more
than 60 in
Russia.
The year before last we chose six leading centres. Over 5 billion roubles have
been allocated for research at these institutions.

This year, at least six more organisations are to be selected
that will receive state grants. They will be able to implement popular projects
for priority sectors of the economy.

It is necessary to create conditions not only to
generate promising solutions, but also to test them and to further introduce
them to the market which is very important, so that ideas do not remain on
paper but are realised and yield tangible benefits.

In Russia, the management and ethical
regulation of the AI market is one of the most progressive in the world. We
have eight experimental legal regimes. Two of them relate to medicine and the
other six to highly automated vehicles and autonomous aircraft. This allows us
to put new technology to the test and see how useful it is, and then create an
efficient legal framework.

The widespread use of innovations
always comes with potential challenges. Among them are issues related to the
recording and protection of personal data, information security in general,
protection of intellectual property, as well the influence of such technology on
people. All of this should be taken into account during our work.

Many are still wary of new
technology, including that based on artificial intelligence. Especially when it
comes to such areas that are sensitive in terms of public morals like
education, healthcare and the social support. Therefore, it is necessary to
approach the introduction of smart solutions very carefully and be guided by
public opinion and receive the feedback our President always talks about. It is
also necessary to use only time-tested developments that have proven safe and
relevant and that will have concrete value, and that will show the advantages
of their use. Naturally, we need to consider the possible risks and
consequences so that they will not impact people. Only then will our society
trust such innovations.

Our country has an AI code of
ethics, which some 270 companies have signed onto. About 20 of them are foreign
companies. The document says that the main priority in the development of such
technologies is the protection of the interests and rights of people in general
and every individual person in particular. I believe that companies and
organisations of this important sector should be guided by this document.

Colleagues,

As I said, we have yet to draft
an updated national strategy on this. It should provide for increasing
computational capacities, launching venture financing at the middle stage of
project implementation, eliminating regulatory barriers when it is possible,
and improving international cooperation.

It is important to outline the
basic scenarios of supporting artificial intelligence in Russia that
will serve as a basis for the updated strategy. We also need to consider the
entire array of measures necessary for reaching the tasks in this sector as set
by the President.