Steering what AI systems learnRussia’s operations, both abroad and domestically, are largely visible, if difficult to counter. This strategy targets Western AI models indirectly by shaping the data they are trained on and the sources they retrieve information from. A network of pro-Kremlin websites has reportedly used AI tools to flood the internet with millions of pieces of Russian propaganda. The concern is that, over time, this could subtly shape how AI systems interpret, prioritise and reproduce information. Researchers studying Russia’s use of AI believe its parallel efforts in the global AI race are becoming harder to detect, more scalable and more targeted.