Russia Weighs Mandatory Use of Sovereign AI Models Like GigaChat in Government Sectors
Russian authorities are discussing a draft government resolution that would require state bodies and companies to prioritize fully domestic AI models in multiple regulated areas even when they cost up to 50 percent more than alternatives. Only GigaChat developed by Sber currently meets the proposed sovereign criteria of being created by a Russian legal entity and running exclusively on Russian infrastructure. National models such as Yandex’s Alice AI would be allowed to incorporate open-source components. The measure would apply to law-making, national projects, taxes, customs, critical information infrastructure, education, healthcare and Gosuslugi services. The Ministry of Digital Development stresses that the list remains preliminary and open to further input from market participants. Industry players including Yandex and MWS AI have voiced concerns over reduced choice and potential quality or cost disadvantages for end users.
AntiMalwareSep 8, 2026Translated from Russian