Yazılar

Sberbank Plans AI Collaboration with China Amid DeepSeek’s Rise

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Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is set to collaborate with Chinese researchers on artificial intelligence (AI) projects, a top executive revealed, following the groundbreaking success of China’s DeepSeek AI model. DeepSeek, which has created a highly cost-effective AI model, has shaken up the tech landscape, challenging the dominance of U.S. companies like Nvidia. This move reflects the growing collaboration between Russia and China, which share a “no limits” strategic partnership, particularly in the realm of AI.

Under CEO German Gref, Sberbank has transitioned from its bureaucratic past as a Soviet-era state savings bank into a leader in AI innovation. In 2023, the bank launched its own AI model, GigaChat, and is now focusing on joint research projects with China. Alexander Vedyakhin, Sberbank’s First Deputy CEO, confirmed the plans but refrained from naming specific Chinese research partners. The partnership is expected to strengthen the scientific ties between the two countries, in line with Russia’s broader push to expand cooperation with China in areas such as military AI applications.

DeepSeek’s innovative, low-cost AI models have caused a stir globally, with investors now viewing them as serious competition for U.S. tech giants. The potential Russia-China AI alliance could further disrupt the global AI sector, especially as the race between China and the U.S. for AI supremacy intensifies. The shared vision of Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, who view the West as in decline, could fuel further collaboration in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and synthetic biology.

Despite facing sanctions, Russia is eager to build AI partnerships with China and other BRICS nations to counterbalance U.S. dominance. However, Russia’s own AI progress remains difficult to gauge, as some projects are classified. Additionally, both Russia and China struggle with limited domestic computing power due to sanctions, prompting efforts to seek alternative methods to stay competitive in the AI race.

Sberbank’s comparison of its GigaChat MAX model to DeepSeek’s offerings reveals that while DeepSeek excels in scientific tasks, GigaChat remains competitive in the banking sector. Vedyakhin acknowledged DeepSeek’s success as proof that quality AI models can be built without massive investments in infrastructure, such as the U.S. megaproject Stargate. Sberbank, like DeepSeek, has made most of its AI platforms publicly accessible, including its text-to-image model, Kandinsky, and GigaChat Lite, which reflects a more transparent approach than that of OpenAI, drawing a large community.

 

EU Tech Companies Agree to Stronger Measures Against Online Hate Speech

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Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, Google’s YouTube, and other tech giants have agreed to enhance their efforts to combat online hate speech under a revised code of conduct, which will now be incorporated into the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The update aims to make these platforms more accountable in tackling harmful content.

Key Points:

  • Revised Code of Conduct: Facebook, X, YouTube, and others have committed to improving their approach to addressing illegal hate speech on their platforms, under the updated voluntary code of conduct, initially launched in May 2016. This code will now align with the requirements of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates tech companies to take stronger action against harmful and illegal online content.
  • Tech Companies’ Pledge: In addition to enhancing detection mechanisms, companies like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitch, alongside the bigger players, have agreed to measures such as using automatic detection tools for hate speech and ensuring that at least two-thirds of hate speech notices are reviewed within 24 hours. They will also provide data on how their recommendation systems contribute to the spread of harmful content.
  • Transparency and Oversight: The updated code will also allow public and non-profit entities with expertise in hate speech to monitor how platforms handle hate speech notices. This will increase the transparency and accountability of tech companies, with a focus on issues like race, ethnicity, religion, and gender identity.
  • EU’s Position on Hate Speech: EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen emphasized that the European Union has no tolerance for illegal hate speech, whether online or offline. The strengthened code aligns with the DSA, which is pushing for stricter regulations on tech companies to address online harms and ensure that harmful content is swiftly removed.