National Center for AI Development opens in Russia - Deputy PM Chernyshenko

MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax) - The National Center for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has opened under the auspices of the Russian government, the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko told Interfax.

"A wide range of analytical, practical, expert, and coordination objectives has been set to the center. First, it will be a key platform for selecting efficient AI solutions for business, science and the state. Second, the center will carry out regular monitoring of key AI development indicators and will evaluate official documents dealing with national regulation of this sphere. Third, the center will provide expert support for the introduction of artificial intelligence in the sectors of the economy and the public sector, will contribute to the implementation of important infrastructural objectives and will facilitate international interaction," Chernyshenko was quoted as saying by his office.

The center will also update the index of economic sectors' readiness for the introduction of AI and will launch a digital solution to keep track of the AI community's members and to promote their development. Furthermore, the center will work to develop the national AI web portal, ai.gov.ru, and will organize an international forum on AI ethics.

The center's director of Sergei Nakvasin, who previously held the post of deputy head of the government's Analytical Center and deputy general director of the Digital Economy autonomous nonprofit organization. A procedure for granting federal budget subsidies for the center's establishment and functioning will be determined in accordance with the government's directives, which have already been drafted by the Economic Development Ministry, Chernyshenko's office said.

Chernyshenko announced the launch of the center at a plenary meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Congress on the sidelines of the Army 2022 international military-technical forum in August. "This center will serve as key platform to search for and analyze effective AI solutions for business, science and the government," Chernyshenko said then.