Technologist of Power: A Study of the Discourse on Artificial Intelligence in Russia

In recent years, there has been an increase in the popularity of artificial intelligence technologies, which have transformed from highly specialized tools into an object of widespread public discussion. Artificial intelligence has become the subject of public rhetoric not only by technology experts, but also by representatives of the political elite, which indicates its transformation into a significant element of socio-political discourse. In the modern Russian political space, there is an active discussion of the development of artificial intelligence technologies, which requires studying the positions of the political elite. There are no works in Russian science that would systematically analyze the statements of Russian politicians about AI technologies through the methods of discourse analysis. There is a significant gap in understanding how the political field of technological development in the field of artificial intelligence is being formed. The relevance of the research is determined by the fact that political statements directly influence the creation of laws and technology development programs, as well as the need to understand hidden ideological attitudes in the statements of political figures. The research is aimed at identifying and analyzing the ways in which representatives of the Russian political elite construct the political field for the development of artificial intelligence technologies in their public statements. The empirical base includes more than 100 statements by eight key Russian political figures in the period from 2022 to 2025. An integrated approach was applied, combining critical discourse analysis and semantic content analysis. The material was collected by targeted selection from the official websites of government agencies, transcripts of speeches, press conferences and interviews in the media. Five main areas of AI discussion have been identified: technological sovereignty, economic efficiency, ethical regulation, educational transformation, and eschatological concerns. The hypothesis of the formation of a special Russian model of understanding AI, which combines technocratic, state and traditionalist approaches, is confirmed. Significant differences have been identified between the stated installations and actual actions in the field of technology policy. The most likely scenario is the formation of a mixed AI development model with the dominance of public-private partnership while maintaining the principles of technological independence. Increased government control in strategically important areas is projected, while granting freedom to the private sector in commercial projects. The practical implementation of this model will be characterized by the concentration of AI technologies in several large companies under government supervision, the gradual introduction of technology into education while maintaining the role of teachers, as well as the development of international technological cooperation with friendly countries.

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