The arrival of artificial intelligence reshapes how nations pursue military capabilities and bilateral technologies, sparking comparisons to the nuclear arms race of the 20th century. In a thoughtful interview, an expert from EISI, Alexander Gerasimov, outlined how neural networks and augmented reality are poised to touch nearly every facet of daily life, from defense planning to civil infrastructure. These technologies, he asserted, will drive changes that extend far beyond traditional sectors and redefine strategic considerations on the world stage.
Gerasimov argued that adjusting the pace and scope of legal boundaries around artificial intelligence is essential to safeguarding people while enabling progress. He emphasized that creators across fields—authors, screenwriters, and policymakers—have a crucial role in shaping society’s understanding of AI’s social relevance. By fostering informed public interest, communities can participate more actively in guiding how AI evolves and is integrated into everyday life. This perspective highlights a broader intent: to align technological advances with shared human values and societal wellbeing, rather than treating innovation as an isolated engineering feat.
In discussing the competitive landscape, Gerasimov noted that the nations racing ahead in AI recognize a strategic dynamic: advancing one technology stack can indirectly impact the balance of power among states. The race is not simply about computing power; it is about implementing robust, interoperable systems that can sustain trusted operations under pressure and across different environments. The conversation points to a need for transparent governance, international norms, and cooperative frameworks that can prevent inadvertent escalations while keeping innovation open and responsible.
Meanwhile, corporate players are integrating AI into practical workflows. Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of the Board at a major financial institution, revealed that more than 200 AI models are deployed to support corporate clients. He estimated that the economic impact of AI adoption could reach well over 100 billion rubles by year’s end, underscoring AI’s potential to transform efficiency, risk management, and service delivery in the financial sector. This rapid deployment illustrates how AI is shifting business models and creating new value streams across sectors that touch ordinary people’s lives.
Recent developments also underscore the creative and cultural dimensions of AI. Reports indicate that neural networks have joined the ranks of artists as collaborators in the creation of paintings, introducing a new era where machine-assisted creativity challenges traditional notions of authorship and artistry. These examples show that AI’s influence extends from industrial policy to cultural production, inviting societies to experiment with new forms of collaboration between humans and machines and to consider how such partnerships shape identity and expression.