Russia Warns Unregulated AI Development Could Lead to New Colonialism

Russia has raised concerns that the uncontrolled growth of artificial intelligence (AI) could worsen global inequality and create a new form of colonialism. This warning was made by Andrey Akulchev, Acting Director of the Department of International Information Security at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a forum in Moscow focused on Russia-Africa relations.

Akulchev stated that if AI development continues without regulation, it could lead to a significant divide between nations, making Africa vulnerable to becoming merely a source of raw materials for the AI economy. He emphasized that Africa should not be treated as a free source of data for companies training their AI models.

To address these concerns, Russia has proposed a partnership in AI research with African nations. Akulchev mentioned that a declaration on AI was agreed upon during the Russia-Africa summit, which supports the right of each country to set its own policies regarding AI. This includes promoting the use of local languages such as Swahili, Yoruba, Hausa, Amharic, and Zulu in AI technologies.

Maxim Kolesnikov, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, added that Russia has been backing 13 AI research centers since 2021, employing over 2,000 scientists. He invited African nations to collaborate with these centers, highlighting a commitment to mutual cooperation rather than a one-sided transfer of technology.

This initiative is part of Russia’s broader strategy to strengthen its partnership with Africa, focusing on building local capabilities and respecting the regulatory independence of nations.