UPDATE: Putin suggests elaborating measures supporting tech firms

(Rewrites story)

MOSCOW, Nov 24 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday an alliance of artificial intelligence (AI) development elaborate additional measures to support technological companies, including startups.

"I see it necessary to continue raising support of technological companies and startups and I suggest the alliance (of AI development) submit their proposals in this regard," Putin said at a forum.

The president ordered to support the local producers of cloud technologies and develop and approve a federal bill on robotics development. He said that any national project and state program must contain measures of AI implementation. All companies receiving subsidies from the budget must use modern technologies, including AI, Putin said.

Country's biggest lender Sberbank CEO German Gref said on the sidelines of the forum that the use of AI may add 1% to Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025.

"According to Sber’s preliminary estimates, introduction of AI in various areas of the Russian economy may additionally boost GDP of the country by 1% already in 2025," Gref said.

According to Gref, the basis for the use of AI already exists in Russia, with the experts, research and legal framework developing sufficiently. “It is time we speed up the switch to widespread and large scale implementation of AI in the key industries,” he said.

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