Translation
Original language
16.06.2025
Integration Project for AI Development
Preamble
Director of the Artificial Intelligence department Autonomous non-profit organization «Digital economy» Integration Project for AI Development The end-to-end nature of modern digital technologies, first of all technologies of artificial intelligence, result in high level of their influence on performance of countries, organizations, and individuals. Besides, development of these technologies seems to be a significant contribution to the solution of important prob lems faced by the countries of the Global South and East. However, realization of the full potential of modern technologies requires a large scale project that would cover the key spheres of scientific and technological activities in the area of arti f icial intelligence and mobilize resources of the countries of the Global South and East. Such project can be offered by the Russian Federation as a response to the challenges faced by the world in connection with attempts of the West, in partic ular, US, to establish dominance in development and use of artificial intelligence technologies through significant financial and computing resources, production of microelectronics, and fundamental researches. The wider goal of the project, the expected result applicable in geographical terms, in particular, to BRICS+ countries, is to use the maximum opportunities offered by AI-technologies to the countries of the Global South and East.
The essay provides most general description of the main blocks of work within the possible international project in the area of artificial intelligence.
Essence of the hypothesis
I. About the need to join efforts of the countries of the Global South and East
As the economic pole is shifting towards the countries of the Global South and East, first of all BRICS member countries, countries of the West are making desperate attempts to secure their economic and technological superiority. In the area of artificial intelligence these attempts take form of, for exam ple, infusion of significant budgetary funds into development of artificial intelli gence infrastructure. Just 2 days after Donald Trump’s Inauguration as the 47th US president, he declared allocation of funds to the private sector for invest ments in artificial intelligence infrastructure for the amount of up to USD 500 . billion1 Besides, according to report by Stanford University, in 2023 financial year, US government agencies allocated a total of USD 1.8 billion for research and development in the area of artificial intelligence. Starting from 2018 financial year, financing of research and development in the area of artificial intelli gence annually increased more than 3 times. Budget for 2024 financial year was requested in the amount of USD 1.9 billion. At the same time, combined budget of two Russian federal projects of the same name, i.e. Artificial Intelligence within the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national program (completed in 2024) and Data Economy and Dig ital Transformation of the State national program (commenced in 2025) for the entire term of implementation (2020-2030) is approximately USD 1.1 billion. To successfully compete with the West, countries of the Global South and East, BRICS members, shall ensure the amount of investments in artificial intelligence development at least at the equal level. However, even in this case financing of researches shall be of concentrated nature. Accumulated resources shall be distributed according to clearly defined and coordinated areas of scientific researches. At the same time, all parties should understand that unity of the goals implies refusal from those studies that regardless of being promising for a certain member country do not ensure increase in knowledge for the entire international project of the Global South and East (hereinafter referred to as AI-project of the Global South and East).
Another important condition for efficient use of accumulated funds is reasonable division of scientific and research work into separate sequential and parallel stages to be performed by the most suitable scientific teams from different countries. Thus, scientific and technological agenda in the area of artificial intelli gence must become common for the Global South and East, which, in the end, will ensure sustainable long term advantage over Western countries.
II. On the blocks of works aimed at joining of efforts of the countries of the Global South and East
Scientific world developed optimal forms of intercountry cooperation long ago, an example of which are international partnerships providing for joint work of universities, scientific institutes, and research centers of different countries. However, under conditions of the need to concentrate resources on priority areas, entire variety of such interactions requires reasonable coordination, as well as presence of a leader of the AI-project of the Global South and East, who shall maintain the framework of scientific research and lead combined cross-national intelligence towards the established goals. It is on the basis of coordinator that regular assessment of the intermediate results of the project, and, thus, control of movement towards the goals set will be performed. In addition to establishment of international partnerships headed by sole coordinator it is necessary to create online platform for exchange of data, ideas, and scientific research results. Such platform will become not only a site for dia logue between scientific teams participating in the project, but will also reflect results achieved by them, the very dynamics of the project plans implementation via accumulation of scientific and technical information being generated, as well as the demand for it among the platform visitors. Besides, crucial function of the platform will be attraction of the so called non-project teams, i.e. those, who are not officially involved in scientific and research activities of the AI-project of the Global South and East. Such teams will at their own will perform researches that are consonant with the research of the project, which will ensure additional perspective on solving of the tasks at hand. Chances are that results of non-project teams will locally exceed those involved in the project. Coordinating authority of the project shall prefer the best results and, if necessary, raise the question of team replacement with the more productive one.
Thus, the main blocks of work within the AI-project of the Global South and East are following:
• accumulation of resources in the amount that is at least equal to Western investments;
• coordination of the areas of scientific and research works and their target financing;
distribution of certain stages of the works between the most productive teams from various countries;
• coordination of international interaction in order to maintain the set frame work, optimize research teams, and control intermediate results;
• creation of international online platform to present results of the project and involve in it all interested research groups, commercial companies, and organizations with public participation that are not officially included in the project.
Quantitative assessment of the economic and social impact of the AI-project implementation is a separate work and can be performed within the framework of a more profound substantiation of the project. At the same time, as regards to Western countries there is the following predictive assessment of the effect of artificial intelligence technology implementation: according to analytical report by International Data Corporation, the total global economic effect from the imple mentation of developments in the area of artificial intelligence by the business will make up approximately USD 19.9 trillion by 2030 inclusive.
III. On compliance of the goals of the AI-project of the Global South and East with the goals of the Russian Federation
Tasks of the Russian Federation within the framework of international coop eration in the area of artificial intelligence technology implementation, as well as areas of such cooperation are defined in National Strategy of Artificial Intelligence Development through 2030, for example:
• promotion on the international arena of values and principles that ensure equal rights and opportunities for the nations in the area of artificial intelli gence technology development and implementation;
• use of technological back-log of the Russian Federation in the area of artificial intelligence to reduce the gap in terms of the level of digital technology development between various countries and improve technological potential of partner countries;
• support of the establishment by Russian scientific and other organizations jointly with foreign partners of international research centers dedicated to artificial intelligence technology development issues, as well as competence centers and laboratories in the area of artificial intelligence;
• development of a joint international base of solutions in the area of artificial intelligence based on Russian repository of secure and functionally correct solutions in the area of artificial intelligence performed under unified open standards;
• analysis of solutions in the area of artificial intelligence in the key directions of their implementation jointly with international and regional organizations and associations, including BRICS outreach and BRICS plus formats.
Thus, the goals of the Russian Federation in the area of international coop eration regarding artificial intelligence technology implementation can be achieved through the goals of the AI-project of the Global South and East.
IV. On resources of the Russian Federation for the AI-project of the Global South and East
Within the framework of the AI-project, Russia can offer both resources for researches in the area of artificial intelligence, and artificial intelligence instru ments for scientific researches (instruments in the area of AI4Science). The first group of resources includes research centers in the area of artifi cial intelligence established on the basis of the leading scientific organizations of the Russian Federation within the framework of implementation of the Artificial Intelligence federal project under the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national program. At present there are 12 centers, basic organizations for which are Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technol ogy, (3) Higher School of Economics National Research University, V. P. Ivannikov Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Innopolis University, ITMO National Research University, St. Petersburg State University, Novosibirsk National Research State University, Samara National Research University named after Academician S. P. Korolev, N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, MEPhI National Research Nuclear University, National Research N.I. Lobachevsky State Uni versity of Nizhny Novgorod. The said centers focus their efforts on industry-specific and inter-industry applied scientific researches in the area of artificial intelligence. In 2025, another 6 research centers will be formed that will focus on advanced development of artificial intelligence technologies, for example, on optimization of machine learning algorithms and computing processes (in particular, that asso ciated with development of large language models and technologies of generative artificial intelligence). In addition, resources for the AI-project of the Global South and East that can be provided by Russia include leading commercial companies in the area of artificial intelligence technology development and implementation, for example Sberbank and Yandex that have their own large models of artificial intelligence, relevant computing facilities, and expert teams. Besides, unique analytical researches on the use of artificial intelligence tech nologies in sectors of the Russian economy carried out by Digital Economy auton omous non-profit organization6 reveal significant potential of middle size and small companies of the Russian Federation in terms of adaptation of the cutting edge developments in AI-sector in view of the market needs. At the same time, these very companies provide proper feedback regarding necessary areas of applied development and implementation of AI-technologies, which makes them a kind of resource for testing of scientific and technological work results obtained within the framework of the AI-project. The second group of resources of the Russian Federation, i.e. instruments of artificial intelligence for scientific researches (AI4Science instruments), includes know-how of the above-mentioned research organizations and com mercial companies used by them to optimize their own scientific and techno logical activities, in particular, help to explore vast areas of possible hypotheses to form theories, generate new hypotheses, plan experiments with resource usage optimization, collect large amounts of data through automation of such collection, interpret scientific data collected, improve computer modeling by better selection of the key parameters of complex systems, solving of differen tial equations that govern complex systems, and modeling of states in complex systems. Thus, Russian Federation has acceptable amount of human and infrastructural resources in order to play one of the leading roles in the AI-project of the Global South and East.
Conclusion
The AI-project of the Global South and East offered for consideration matches interests of the Russian Federation in terms of joining of friendly countries’ efforts to develop artificial intelligence technologies. Expected economic and social effects will support solving of the critical problems of countries involved in the AI project. The level of trust of the countries of the Global South and East allows Rus sia to claim coordinating role within the framework of the AI-project. Available scientific resources and technological competences constitute an additional argument in favor of Russia. Implementation of the project will require significant efforts of the Russian Federation – the state, business, as well as scientific and educational community. However, possible alternative here is rapid loss of fundamental competencies in the area of artificial intelligence and reduction of the role of Russian developers to primitive adaptation of third party products.
Director of the Artificial Intelligence department Autonomous non-profit organization «Digital economy» Integration Project for AI Development The end-to-end nature of modern digital technologies, first of all technologies of artificial intelligence, result in high level of their influence on performance of countries, organizations, and individuals. Besides, development of these technologies seems to be a significant contribution to the solution of important prob lems faced by the countries of the Global South and East. However, realization of the full potential of modern technologies requires a large scale project that would cover the key spheres of scientific and technological activities in the area of arti f icial intelligence and mobilize resources of the countries of the Global South and East. Such project can be offered by the Russian Federation as a response to the challenges faced by the world in connection with attempts of the West, in partic ular, US, to establish dominance in development and use of artificial intelligence technologies through significant financial and computing resources, production of microelectronics, and fundamental researches. The wider goal of the project, the expected result applicable in geographical terms, in particular, to BRICS+ countries, is to use the maximum opportunities offered by AI-technologies to the countries of the Global South and East.
The essay provides most general description of the main blocks of work within the possible international project in the area of artificial intelligence.
Essence of the hypothesis
I. About the need to join efforts of the countries of the Global South and East
As the economic pole is shifting towards the countries of the Global South and East, first of all BRICS member countries, countries of the West are making desperate attempts to secure their economic and technological superiority. In the area of artificial intelligence these attempts take form of, for exam ple, infusion of significant budgetary funds into development of artificial intelli gence infrastructure. Just 2 days after Donald Trump’s Inauguration as the 47th US president, he declared allocation of funds to the private sector for invest ments in artificial intelligence infrastructure for the amount of up to USD 500 . billion1 Besides, according to report by Stanford University, in 2023 financial year, US government agencies allocated a total of USD 1.8 billion for research and development in the area of artificial intelligence. Starting from 2018 financial year, financing of research and development in the area of artificial intelli gence annually increased more than 3 times. Budget for 2024 financial year was requested in the amount of USD 1.9 billion. At the same time, combined budget of two Russian federal projects of the same name, i.e. Artificial Intelligence within the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national program (completed in 2024) and Data Economy and Dig ital Transformation of the State national program (commenced in 2025) for the entire term of implementation (2020-2030) is approximately USD 1.1 billion. To successfully compete with the West, countries of the Global South and East, BRICS members, shall ensure the amount of investments in artificial intelligence development at least at the equal level. However, even in this case financing of researches shall be of concentrated nature. Accumulated resources shall be distributed according to clearly defined and coordinated areas of scientific researches. At the same time, all parties should understand that unity of the goals implies refusal from those studies that regardless of being promising for a certain member country do not ensure increase in knowledge for the entire international project of the Global South and East (hereinafter referred to as AI-project of the Global South and East).
Another important condition for efficient use of accumulated funds is reasonable division of scientific and research work into separate sequential and parallel stages to be performed by the most suitable scientific teams from different countries. Thus, scientific and technological agenda in the area of artificial intelli gence must become common for the Global South and East, which, in the end, will ensure sustainable long term advantage over Western countries.
II. On the blocks of works aimed at joining of efforts of the countries of the Global South and East
Scientific world developed optimal forms of intercountry cooperation long ago, an example of which are international partnerships providing for joint work of universities, scientific institutes, and research centers of different countries. However, under conditions of the need to concentrate resources on priority areas, entire variety of such interactions requires reasonable coordination, as well as presence of a leader of the AI-project of the Global South and East, who shall maintain the framework of scientific research and lead combined cross-national intelligence towards the established goals. It is on the basis of coordinator that regular assessment of the intermediate results of the project, and, thus, control of movement towards the goals set will be performed. In addition to establishment of international partnerships headed by sole coordinator it is necessary to create online platform for exchange of data, ideas, and scientific research results. Such platform will become not only a site for dia logue between scientific teams participating in the project, but will also reflect results achieved by them, the very dynamics of the project plans implementation via accumulation of scientific and technical information being generated, as well as the demand for it among the platform visitors. Besides, crucial function of the platform will be attraction of the so called non-project teams, i.e. those, who are not officially involved in scientific and research activities of the AI-project of the Global South and East. Such teams will at their own will perform researches that are consonant with the research of the project, which will ensure additional perspective on solving of the tasks at hand. Chances are that results of non-project teams will locally exceed those involved in the project. Coordinating authority of the project shall prefer the best results and, if necessary, raise the question of team replacement with the more productive one.
Thus, the main blocks of work within the AI-project of the Global South and East are following:
• accumulation of resources in the amount that is at least equal to Western investments;
• coordination of the areas of scientific and research works and their target financing;
distribution of certain stages of the works between the most productive teams from various countries;
• coordination of international interaction in order to maintain the set frame work, optimize research teams, and control intermediate results;
• creation of international online platform to present results of the project and involve in it all interested research groups, commercial companies, and organizations with public participation that are not officially included in the project.
Quantitative assessment of the economic and social impact of the AI-project implementation is a separate work and can be performed within the framework of a more profound substantiation of the project. At the same time, as regards to Western countries there is the following predictive assessment of the effect of artificial intelligence technology implementation: according to analytical report by International Data Corporation, the total global economic effect from the imple mentation of developments in the area of artificial intelligence by the business will make up approximately USD 19.9 trillion by 2030 inclusive.
III. On compliance of the goals of the AI-project of the Global South and East with the goals of the Russian Federation
Tasks of the Russian Federation within the framework of international coop eration in the area of artificial intelligence technology implementation, as well as areas of such cooperation are defined in National Strategy of Artificial Intelligence Development through 2030, for example:
• promotion on the international arena of values and principles that ensure equal rights and opportunities for the nations in the area of artificial intelli gence technology development and implementation;
• use of technological back-log of the Russian Federation in the area of artificial intelligence to reduce the gap in terms of the level of digital technology development between various countries and improve technological potential of partner countries;
• support of the establishment by Russian scientific and other organizations jointly with foreign partners of international research centers dedicated to artificial intelligence technology development issues, as well as competence centers and laboratories in the area of artificial intelligence;
• development of a joint international base of solutions in the area of artificial intelligence based on Russian repository of secure and functionally correct solutions in the area of artificial intelligence performed under unified open standards;
• analysis of solutions in the area of artificial intelligence in the key directions of their implementation jointly with international and regional organizations and associations, including BRICS outreach and BRICS plus formats.
Thus, the goals of the Russian Federation in the area of international coop eration regarding artificial intelligence technology implementation can be achieved through the goals of the AI-project of the Global South and East.
IV. On resources of the Russian Federation for the AI-project of the Global South and East
Within the framework of the AI-project, Russia can offer both resources for researches in the area of artificial intelligence, and artificial intelligence instru ments for scientific researches (instruments in the area of AI4Science). The first group of resources includes research centers in the area of artifi cial intelligence established on the basis of the leading scientific organizations of the Russian Federation within the framework of implementation of the Artificial Intelligence federal project under the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national program. At present there are 12 centers, basic organizations for which are Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technol ogy, (3) Higher School of Economics National Research University, V. P. Ivannikov Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Innopolis University, ITMO National Research University, St. Petersburg State University, Novosibirsk National Research State University, Samara National Research University named after Academician S. P. Korolev, N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, MEPhI National Research Nuclear University, National Research N.I. Lobachevsky State Uni versity of Nizhny Novgorod. The said centers focus their efforts on industry-specific and inter-industry applied scientific researches in the area of artificial intelligence. In 2025, another 6 research centers will be formed that will focus on advanced development of artificial intelligence technologies, for example, on optimization of machine learning algorithms and computing processes (in particular, that asso ciated with development of large language models and technologies of generative artificial intelligence). In addition, resources for the AI-project of the Global South and East that can be provided by Russia include leading commercial companies in the area of artificial intelligence technology development and implementation, for example Sberbank and Yandex that have their own large models of artificial intelligence, relevant computing facilities, and expert teams. Besides, unique analytical researches on the use of artificial intelligence tech nologies in sectors of the Russian economy carried out by Digital Economy auton omous non-profit organization6 reveal significant potential of middle size and small companies of the Russian Federation in terms of adaptation of the cutting edge developments in AI-sector in view of the market needs. At the same time, these very companies provide proper feedback regarding necessary areas of applied development and implementation of AI-technologies, which makes them a kind of resource for testing of scientific and technological work results obtained within the framework of the AI-project. The second group of resources of the Russian Federation, i.e. instruments of artificial intelligence for scientific researches (AI4Science instruments), includes know-how of the above-mentioned research organizations and com mercial companies used by them to optimize their own scientific and techno logical activities, in particular, help to explore vast areas of possible hypotheses to form theories, generate new hypotheses, plan experiments with resource usage optimization, collect large amounts of data through automation of such collection, interpret scientific data collected, improve computer modeling by better selection of the key parameters of complex systems, solving of differen tial equations that govern complex systems, and modeling of states in complex systems. Thus, Russian Federation has acceptable amount of human and infrastructural resources in order to play one of the leading roles in the AI-project of the Global South and East.
Conclusion
The AI-project of the Global South and East offered for consideration matches interests of the Russian Federation in terms of joining of friendly countries’ efforts to develop artificial intelligence technologies. Expected economic and social effects will support solving of the critical problems of countries involved in the AI project. The level of trust of the countries of the Global South and East allows Rus sia to claim coordinating role within the framework of the AI-project. Available scientific resources and technological competences constitute an additional argument in favor of Russia. Implementation of the project will require significant efforts of the Russian Federation – the state, business, as well as scientific and educational community. However, possible alternative here is rapid loss of fundamental competencies in the area of artificial intelligence and reduction of the role of Russian developers to primitive adaptation of third party products.
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