The AI industry in Russia is not doing well. Domestic AI models exist, but they aren't exactly high performers, and many of them are based on the open weight Chinese models - so there is very little reason to use them. IT power users run Western or Chinese models, often through proxies, VPNs or resellers.
AI is being adopted and used, but if there was ever a chance of Russia being an AI power, it died in 2022.
A few formerly-Russian IT companies had their "rainy day" HQs overseas, and leveraged them to slip the noose and leave Russia - brain draining what AI expertise was available in the country. See: Yandex -> Nebius.
The private equity debt time bomb is here. Then there is the bond market.
And then guaranteed bust of AI bubble. 2000 billion dollars for a single company? That too when bottom of the boat has been drilled by open weight Chinese models that are cheaper and good enough but can even be deployed locally?
In face of all that - that kind of return is not realistic.
However - good gimmick scaring UN asking for a ban on Chinese models perhaps.
The UN is not a body that would be involved in banning models from a specific country, and even if they were China is one of 5 members with permanent veto power.
Why these bug eyed salamanders have any say at all for any of this is beyond me. He's a tech ceo who wants to make money, nothing more.
I find it very hard to understand the things these AI CEO's say.
He will probably get up there and say his companies products will destroy every citizen of their countries.
Shocking publicity is good publicity. And "my product is so potent it will probably destroy you." I think I´ve heard it from drug dealers as well.
Smells of, "You can't handle my potions. They're too strong for you."[1]
1. https://genius.com/Justin-kuritzkes-potion-seller-annotated
He will probably tell them exactly what they want him to say. If he means it or not. That is hard to say.
The founder of Loopt is now ruling the world.
The guy had a failed startup and somehow leveraged that into the situation today.
I imagine his time at ycombinator as Gríma Wormtongue whispering into theoden's(paulg's) ear
The LARP proceeds unabated.
If governments regulate AI and make it slow down, does that let one get out of data center contracts?
If OpenAI voids its spending commitment, the bubble has to pop. I know the market is irrational, but that would be the clearest top signal ever
How's AI doing in Russia with all the sanctions and whatnot?
The AI industry in Russia is not doing well. Domestic AI models exist, but they aren't exactly high performers, and many of them are based on the open weight Chinese models - so there is very little reason to use them. IT power users run Western or Chinese models, often through proxies, VPNs or resellers.
AI is being adopted and used, but if there was ever a chance of Russia being an AI power, it died in 2022.
A few formerly-Russian IT companies had their "rainy day" HQs overseas, and leveraged them to slip the noose and leave Russia - brain draining what AI expertise was available in the country. See: Yandex -> Nebius.
They’re just using Claude: https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/09/russia-weaponi...
They have access to all the same open models that the rest of the world does, so just fine I would think.
They also access American models via proxies. Same as China
The private equity debt time bomb is here. Then there is the bond market.
And then guaranteed bust of AI bubble. 2000 billion dollars for a single company? That too when bottom of the boat has been drilled by open weight Chinese models that are cheaper and good enough but can even be deployed locally?
In face of all that - that kind of return is not realistic.
However - good gimmick scaring UN asking for a ban on Chinese models perhaps.
The UN is not a body that would be involved in banning models from a specific country, and even if they were China is one of 5 members with permanent veto power.
Only way to justify those valuation is if they can achieve regulatory capture and outlaw competitors and open models.
Expect the fear mongering to escalate to a fever pitch.
The UN has no authority to ban anything but it's a good platform.
A great marketing opportunity for Grifty McGriftface.
A friend him called Uncle Sam Alternative-man, thought it was accurate and clever