Artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a versatile, multi-purpose technology capable of performing tasks and solving problems in rapidly changing environments. It represents a global technological shift with the potential to transform approaches to addressing many of humanity’s challenges. Beyond its evident economic and social benefits, AI also poses significant political risks. These include threats to democratic development, the proliferation of disinformation, population control, manipulation of political choices and public behavior, and the collection and trade of personal data. The development of AI is linked to a range of geopolitical risks, among which are: its impact on the evolution and dynamics of global political processes; shifts in the structure and balance of global power and the geopolitical hierarchy of states; the provocation of intense geopolitical competition; the deepening of geopolitical inequality between the Global North and the Global South; its influence on armed conflicts, warfare, and cyberwarfare strategies; its role in strategic decision-making processes serving the interests of specific stakeholders; and its destabilizing impact on global and regional governance and security. The emerging and existing political and geopolitical risks associated with AI necessitate careful monitoring of its implementation and development. The challenge of establishing control over AI is compounded by the fact that its development is predominantly driven by private companies. This situation raises issues of intellectual property and data access, limits state leverage over private entities, and underscores the lack of consensus between private and public regulatory approaches. The proliferation of new AI technologies is particularly relevant for Russia, which faces unprecedented pressure from the collective West. Russia possesses the necessary material and intellectual resources to counteract “cyber-colonization” and defend its digital sovereignty. Thus, a critical priority is the development of policies aimed at minimizing potential risks while fostering the creation of a robust national technological ecosystem. With effective state control and governance, AI technologies can serve as a public good, contributing to the stability and prosperity of the nation.
artificial intelligence; digital platforms; political risks; geopolitical risks; political processes; balance of power; control.