Vladimir Putin: Russia's Existence Depends on AI
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The future of a nation is no longer determined solely by military strength or natural resource wealth. Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly asserted that Russia’s fate ahead rests on one intangible yet decisive factor: artificial intelligence.
That statement is not mere technological optimism, but a warning. In the Kremlin’s view, failing to master AI is not just about lagging in innovation, but risks eroding sovereignty and even the nation’s very existence amid increasingly fierce global competition.
Putin has instructed the government to promptly draft a national plan for the comprehensive development and implementation of AI technology. He emphasised that accelerating adoption must encompass nearly all sectors, from the economy to defence.
According to him, artificial intelligence is no longer a future technology, but the foundation for a new system of life. AI, along with digital platforms and autonomous systems, is now reshaping the face of the economy, social relations, education, healthcare, and industry.
At an AI development forum, Putin stated that the changes brought by this technology are structural. That means not only ways of working are changing, but also how the state operates and survives in the global system.
He highlighted that Russia must not depend on foreign technology. In the context of geopolitics fraught with pressure and sanctions, such dependence is deemed highly risky to national stability.
“We must have the most advanced technology and fully rely on sovereign domestic products,” he asserted.
That statement reflects the direction of Russia’s policy, which increasingly emphasises technological independence as part of its national defence strategy.
Putin also highlighted the rapid development of language models and neural networks, which now demonstrate increasingly high levels of autonomy. This technology no longer merely executes commands, but is beginning to plan, evaluate, and interact independently.