Kathrine Frich
He said authorities must protect national security and cultural identity.
Technology moves faster than ever, promising to reshape how humans work, live, and communicate.
As new digital tools sweep across the globe, world leaders are scrambling to figure out how to control them.
For some, the biggest fear is not the machines themselves, but how the code might change the people using it.
A warning on elites
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently addressed the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Valdai Forum on October 1, he outlined his vision for the future of digital society.
According to The Moscow Times cited by United24Media, Putin warned that the new technology could dangerously divide the public. He stated that society must not split into an “intellectual elite” that is actually taught to think, while the intellectual growth of everyday people falls behind.
The Russian leader also highlighted other risks tied to the booming tech sector. He cited unnamed experts who worry that artificial intelligence might simply become another way to “bring everyone to a common denominator.”
Controlling the code
Beyond social divisions, Putin emphasized the need for national digital sovereignty. He argued that governments face a tough balancing act as state systems move online.
Authorities must protect national security and cultural identity. At the same time, they cannot afford to cut themselves off from global tech progress, he explained.
To achieve this, the Russian State Duma has already taken sweeping legislative action. Lawmakers recently passed a strict new law governing artificial intelligence, according to United24 Media.
Guarding traditional values
The legislation, which took effect on September 1, 2026, forces developers to follow strict ideological rules. It introduces legal definitions for sovereign and national AI models.
Most importantly, the law demands that all artificial intelligence systems comply with traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.
Under these rules, a fully sovereign AI model must be built entirely by Russian companies. Foreign involvement is strictly forbidden. Developers must restrict all coding, training, and data storage to domestic data centers.
The final approval
National models have a bit more freedom. They are allowed to incorporate foreign open-source components, United24 Media reported.
Even so, both types of AI face a massive hurdle before they can operate officially. They must receive direct confirmation from the government that they align perfectly with traditional state values.
The new legal framework places the overall national tech strategy directly under Putin’s personal control. The broader government will handle the daily rollout and manage state funding.
