Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko stated that Russia’s AI initiatives are already reshaping the economy, with a projected impact of 400 billion rubles by the close of 2023. Speaking at the Army-2023 forum during the general assembly on strategic leadership and artificial intelligence technologies, he indicated that this figure represents only one facet of the broader transformation underway in the national AI landscape. He emphasized that the real effect goes beyond simple savings on operating costs, hinting at deeper shifts in productivity, investment, and competitive positioning across sectors.
Chernyshenko highlighted the momentum of the AI market in Russia, noting that the market size reached 550 billion rubles in 2021 and expanded to 650 billion rubles in 2022. This trajectory translates to an annual growth rate near 18 percent, underscoring strong demand and rapid deployment of AI solutions within public and private organizations. Forecasts from industry experts suggest that the application of artificial intelligence could push the market’s value well past the one-trillion-ruble mark by 2025, signaling a substantial long-term contribution to economic activity and innovation output.
In a related message, President Vladimir Putin addressed participants at the Army forum via a video message, reaffirming the government’s view that products and services powered by AI technologies are expanding within the country. The remarks reflect a continued emphasis on leveraging AI to bolster national competitiveness and strategic capabilities across defense, industry, and public administration.
Earlier in June, a conference hosted by The Week brought together more than 350 researchers and engineers. A notable concern raised at the gathering centered on the possibility that rapidly advancing AI could reach a level of super-intelligence and power that might trigger significant social disruption, or, in extreme scenarios, pose existential risks. Panel discussions explored governance, safety measures, and policy frameworks aimed at guiding AI development toward beneficial outcomes while mitigating potential downsides.
The discourse on AI also touched cultural dimensions, with references to creative outputs such as neural-network-generated content. In a nod to digital artistry and memorial expressions, a neural network completed a tribute piece that honored the late Yegor Letov, accompanied by a music video created in response to the project. The intersection of technology and culture illustrates the broad reach of artificial intelligence in contemporary life.