Putin orders increasing number of companies with state capital using AI

MOSCOW. July 20 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to increase the number of companies with state capital that use or plan to use artificial intelligence in their work.

"We agreed to provide until 2030 state support to research centers in the sphere of artificial intelligence, and all normative, organizational and financial issues need to be considered here. The federal budget for 2024-2026 needs to envisage funding to finance such research centers," Putin said at a meeting with government members that addressed issues relating to the introduction of artificial intelligence in sectors of the economy.

If that does not happen, there will be no relevant progress, the president said.

"Secondly. We need to expand the range of companies with state capital that use or plan to use artificial intelligence mechanisms in their work. I am asking to consider it a direct order, we need to work with these companies. Yes, there is no doubt that changes to the corporate digital transformation strategy will be needed. Yes, of course, I will ask the government to tackle this issue substantively with companies, like I already said," Putin said.

The president addressed another issue, which he said is very important.

"It's the training of specialists who work with digital technologies. All of the country's universities have already been sent an updated educational module of artificial intelligence systems. It is recommended for inclusion in education programs. I think, a more drastic step can be taken and this module can be declared mandatory," Putin said.