Russian commander's claim about crucial military advantage over US dismissed as 'highly unlikely' by expert.

One top expert has refuted the claims made by the head of Russia's technology development for its Defense Ministry that Moscow is ahead in the AI race that emerged during the war in Ukraine.

According to Gen. Vasily Elistratov, head of the Kremlin's AI development, Russia is ahead of its foreign partners, despite efforts to isolate them at the technical level, as stated in a Military-Technical Forum held in Moscow this week.

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has spurred a race to enhance AI capabilities for military purposes among Kyiv, Moscow, and NATO countries.

Developing AI has been a top priority for Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly in the context of renewed focus on AI-integrated defense systems, including autonomous weapons systems, brought about by the ongoing war.

In 2017, five years before the largest war in Europe since World War II, Putin stated, "The leader in AI will dominate the world," and by 2022, Russia's AI market had increased by 18% in just one year, as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced.

Moscow has increased its AI investment by $54 million in its 2024 budget, though this is only a small fraction of the $1.8 billion allocated by the US for AI in its 2024 and 2025 defense budgets.

According to Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," it is unlikely that Russia is ahead of the U.S. in AI development.

From the outset, the US and Russia have adopted distinct strategies regarding AI development, with Washington concentrating on technological advancement while Moscow focused on leveraging AI for psychological warfare.

"In warfare, attacking computer systems can disrupt military forces and have psychological effects on the users."

Russia's use of disinformation campaigns, propaganda, digital fakes, and election interference has had a significant psychological impact on entire populations, a strategy that the U.S. and the West typically do not employ.

She stated that the U.S. doesn't typically do that type of thing and that it's not how the country operates.

"Koffler stated that the topic of Russia has always been relevant, not only for international viewers but also for domestic audiences. He added that the use of AI allows for the rapid dissemination of misinformation."

Though Koffler expressed doubt that Russia was surpassing the U.S. in any aspect of AI development, she suggested that Moscow might be leading in decision-making technologies, according to her.

In an effort to reduce the strain on U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. began utilizing AI technologies in warfare towards the end of its War on Terror.

The role of human oversight in the development of "responsible" AI for wartime employment in the U.S. and its Western allies has been significant from the outset, but it is unclear how this specific aspect could impact adversarial strategizing when it comes to AI on the battlefield.

Elistratov's comparison of Moscow's AI developments to its "partners" likely encompassed countries beyond the U.S.

Russia's top ally, China, is rapidly advancing in AI development and is often viewed as the U.S.'s main competitor in the race to master the technology.

While Moscow is likely ahead of allies like Iran and North Korea in the AI race, Russia is closer to China in terms of AI development.