Sberbank Seeks Chinese Chips for GigaChat AI Model

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, is attempting to source chips from China to run its AI model GigaChat. According to Reuters, the bank faces difficulties accessing advanced semiconductors due to Western sanctions and is therefore turning to alternative sources. Sberbank aims to procure high-performance chips from Chinese manufacturers for use in the training and inference processes of GigaChat. This move is seen as part of Russia's efforts toward technological self-sufficiency. The bank is committed to advancing its AI capabilities despite current restrictions. GigaChat is an AI model developed by Sberbank that can generate text, images, and code. As the model gains popularity in Russia, the bank seeks to expand its hardware infrastructure to further enhance it. Chinese chips could play a critical role in this expansion. Experts note that the success of this initiative depends on Chinese suppliers' ability to circumvent sanctions and on technological compatibility. Sberbank's step is viewed as a reflection of geopolitical tensions in the global semiconductor supply chain. This is not investment advice.