How Putin's Personal Habits Contribute to Russia's Technological Lag
A report by the British newspaper The Times examines Russia's technological backwardness, linking it directly to President Vladimir Putin's personal habits. The article highlights his avoidance of modern digital tools, a stance that analysts argue hinders national development. This technological stagnation is quantified by a Stanford University study ranking Russia 28th out of 36 nations in overall artificial intelligence industry strength.
Putin is known not to use a smartphone, computer, or the internet, a significant disconnect in the digital age. State administration in Russia relies on a closed network of landline telephones for secure communications, a system considered outdated. Furthermore, computers in his Kremlin office and at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence reportedly still run the Windows XP operating system. This software was first released in 2001, and Microsoft ended official support for it in April 2014, raising serious security and compatibility concerns.
Brain Drain and Declining Global Competitiveness
Russia's tech deficit is exacerbated by a major exodus of IT professionals. In 2022 alone, approximately 100,000 specialists in information technology left the country, signaling a profound crisis in the sector. In AI rankings, Russia now lags far behind nations like the United States, China, India, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Ireland. This decline is alarming for a country whose economic and strategic ambitions depend heavily on technological progress.
Commenting on the situation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted: 'He won't call me; he doesn't have a mobile phone. And I don't use the telegraph from 1917. He won't call me; he doesn't want to end this war.'
Zelenskyy's remark underscores how technological isolation is intertwined with the current political impasse. For modern nations, technological advancement is a critical driver of economic growth and geopolitical influence, and its absence can have severe long-term consequences.
The technological gap, influenced by the leadership's personal preferences, places Russia at a severe disadvantage in global competition. This lack of modern tools not only stifles economic development but also weakens the country's international standing. In an era of rapid digital transformation, failure to adapt to new realities appears to be a deliberate choice of the current leadership, with the nation's future competitiveness at stake.