Digital Revolution of the Third Rome

As 2025 begins, the race for artificial intelligence dominance is accelerating, with Shanghai unveiling major AI initiatives while Russia deepens its technological ties with China. The BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—is emerging as a formidable force in AI, presenting an alternative to Western-led developments. Yet, beneath the surface of this competition, history and geopolitics suggest a convergence rather than a conflict, where technological ambitions align with deeper civilizational narratives, including Moscow’s historic vision as the "Third Rome."
Shanghai’s AI Ambitions and the BRICS Nexus
Shanghai has taken bold steps to cement its status as a global AI hub. The city’s new initiatives, unveiled at the Shanghai Conference on Artificial Intelligence + Promotion, are designed to integrate AI into finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and governance while lowering the barriers to AI adoption. At the core of these efforts is the newly established China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center, which will facilitate AI research, training, and collaboration among BRICS nations.By investing heavily in AI, China is positioning itself not just as a leader in technological innovation but also as a unifier of BRICS in the AI domain. This aligns with BRICS’ broader strategy of technological self-sufficiency and economic resilience, particularly in light of Western financial and technological dominance.
Putin’s AI Play: Russia Turns East
On the other side of the Eurasian landmass, Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia’s government and Sberbank to enhance AI cooperation with China. Sanctions from the U.S. and its allies have severely restricted Russia’s access to advanced semiconductors, forcing Moscow to seek alternatives. Teaming up with China allows Russia to bypass Western restrictions while accelerating its AI development.Putin’s AI initiative also fits into a larger strategy: leveraging AI as a geopolitical tool within the BRICS framework. In December, he announced a new AI Alliance Network that would bring together BRICS nations and other willing partners, further solidifying the bloc’s technological cooperation. Despite Russia ranking behind China, the U.S., and even India in AI development, its alignment with China suggests a shift from dependence on Western technology to a multipolar AI landscape.
Moscow as the Third Rome: A Digital Crusade
Historically, Russia has viewed itself as the “Third Rome,” a successor to the Roman and Byzantine empires. This idea, rooted in Orthodox Christian ideology, positions Moscow as the last bastion of true civilization and spiritual authority. The AI race, then, can be seen as a new kind of "crusade"—not one of swords, but of algorithms, economic power, and digital sovereignty.The West’s AI development, spearheaded by the U.S. and its corporate giants, has long been intertwined with financial and surveillance systems, reinforcing global dependencies. BRICS, in contrast, is forging an independent AI ecosystem, integrating digital currency and decentralized finance into its strategy. As an advocate for crypto alternatives, BRICS seeks to challenge the hegemony of the U.S. dollar and Western financial institutions.
Yet, despite the apparent opposition, history suggests that these technological and ideological paths will eventually intersect. Just as the Roman Empire split into East and West yet remained connected through trade, war, and diplomacy, today's AI battleground may lead not to perpetual conflict but to a new synthesis. A world where digital empires, rather than physical ones, dictate global power structures.
The Unfolding AI Convergence
Rather than a clash of civilizations, the AI race may lead to an inevitable merging of interests. Western AI developments, driven by private corporations and surveillance-driven policies, will find themselves competing not just against China, but against a BRICS-driven alternative that promotes state-backed AI and decentralized digital ecosystems.As Shanghai advances its AI dominance and Russia positions itself within BRICS, the world is witnessing the early stages of a new order—one that blends technological power with historical destiny. Whether this is a digital Cold War or the prelude to a new convergence remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the AI crusade has begun, and its outcome will shape the future of global civilization.