From Herman Gref: Russia is in the top 5 for AI development | Sber Breakfast 2026 · · RusCollection
“Мы точно находимся в числе пятёрки стран, которые в этот клуб входят. У нас есть свои национальные модели и достаточно развитые компании и люди, и команды, которые обладают всем набором компетенций, которые необходимы для разработки фундаментальных моделей и всей их обвязки.”
On , Herman Gref, CEO at Sberbank of Russia, spoke about AI development during Herman Gref: Russia is in the top 5 for AI development | Sber Breakfast 2026 on RusCollection.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2026, Herman Gref stated that Russia is among the top five countries in artificial intelligence development, citing national models and teams with the necessary competencies. He estimated Russia's gap with China at six to eight months, attributing it primarily to a lack of computing capacity, and noted that the United States remains the absolute leader, with China trailing by about half a year in development but ahead in implementation. Gref also drew a parallel between the current AI race and the Manhattan Project, warning against a critical technological gap in military applications. He remarked that no country has faced a sanctions regime as extensive as Russia's, yet the country has maintained stability and continued development. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of open debate and diverse viewpoints to avoid erroneous decisions.