Russia to enlist AI to fight corruption – chief prosecutor
The government is seeking to introduce artificial intelligence in sectors such as public administration and defense
Prosecutors in Russia have been ordered to make wider use of artificial intelligence in fighting corruption. The directive came from Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov on Sunday, a day before International Anti-Corruption Day.
AI-based technology will be employed to check existing regulations, Krasnov said in an interview to the news agency TASS.
“The [work] requires excellent knowledge of many laws… My subordinates have all this. But at the same time, I have instructed [them] to make greater use of AI capabilities,” said Krasnov.
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The aim is to prevent corruption by finding and closing loopholes that allow officials to make decisions that benefit themselves, the prosecutor general explained.
He cited an example of a ministry regulation that had let the heads of subordinate entities determine the size of their own bonuses. The regulation has been amended and bonus payments must now be approved by the ministry, said Krasnov.
On Monday, the chairman of Russia's Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, announced that Russia had sustained 14.2 billion rubles ($143.2 million) in losses this year due to corruption. In the first nine months of the year, 9,000 criminal cases were filed, he added, 14.4% more than in the previous year.
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The government has worked to accelerate the introduction of AI in various areas, including public administration and defense. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a national project aimed at creating digital platforms across all key sectors of the economy by 2030.
In November, Putin called for the country to become a leader in AI technology. Russia needs to develop AI domestically to protect its digital sovereignty, the president stated.
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Also last month, the deputy head of the presidential administration, Maksim Oreshkin, said that AI could help Russia boost productivity and overcome problems caused by demographic decline.