China-Russia tech alliance aims to rival US AI dominance

Russia and China are expanding their technological partnership with a new focus on artificial intelligence development, following direct orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to his government and state-owned Sberbank.

Key development: Putin has formally instructed Russian government entities to pursue technological collaboration with China in artificial intelligence research and development, marking a significant shift in international AI partnerships.

• The directive was published on the Kremlin’s website Wednesday, specifically targeting cooperation between Russia’s largest state-owned bank, Sberbank, and Chinese partners
• This move comes as Russia faces continuing Western sanctions that limit its access to critical AI development components, particularly microchips and graphics processing units

Strategic implications: The partnership aims to challenge U.S. dominance in AI technology while potentially advancing military capabilities.

• Russia has already implemented AI in its Ukraine war efforts, including anti-drone systems and military training
• China ranks second globally in AI development according to the Tortoise Media’s Global AI Index, while Russia currently ranks 31st out of 83 countries
• The collaboration could accelerate the development of autonomous weapons systems, as both nations have demonstrated interest in AI-powered military technology

Current landscape: The United States maintains its position as the global leader in AI development, with recent data suggesting the gap between U.S. and Chinese capabilities is widening.

• Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered AI reports that the U.S. leads in both research output and private investment
• Putin has announced plans to work with other BRICS nations on AI development, signaling a broader strategy to create an alternative to Western AI dominance
• Sberbank CEO German Gref has acknowledged that Western sanctions have significantly impacted Russia’s AI development capabilities

Military applications: Both nations have demonstrated clear intentions to leverage AI for military purposes.

• Russia has integrated AI into its combat operations in Ukraine, including cyber warfare and unmanned systems
• China has begun developing autonomous “killer robots” and is reportedly collaborating with Russia on AI weaponry
• The International Center for Defense and Security confirms Russia’s use of AI-powered systems in battlefield applications

Future implications: This technological alliance between Russia and China could reshape the global AI landscape while raising new security concerns about autonomous weapons development and deployment in future conflicts.

• The partnership may accelerate the development of military AI applications despite international concerns about autonomous weapons
• Western sanctions‘ effectiveness in limiting Russian technological advancement may be diminished through this collaboration
• The growing technological cooperation between these nations could further deepen the divide between Western and Eastern spheres of influence in AI development