Sberbank spearheads Russia’s AI ambition with GigaChat

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is set to launch a version of its own Large Language Model (LLM), GigaChat, which is said to have advanced reasoning capabilities. 

First Deputy CEO Alexander Vedyakhin said in an interview that the model’s beta version is currently in testing and would be rolled out in the near future.

Sberbank spearheads Russia’s AI ambition with GigaChat

Most LLMs are primarily designed for chat and basic tasks; however, Sberbank claims that GigaChat features advanced reasoning capabilities, which make it capable of solving complex science and mathematical problems, and even code, making it on par with other models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Vedyakhin admits that the model is about six to nine months behind AI leaders like the US and China. However, he emphasized that GigaChat is tailored towards Russian language fluency, domestic cloud performance, and alignment with the local corporate needs.

Vedyakhin believes this specialization makes GigaChat more valuable and preferred by Russian clients. He also claims that about 15,000 Russian companies are already adopting the model.

Sberbank isn’t content with solo advances. In February 2025, Vedyakhin revealed plans to conduct joint research on AI projects with China. “Sberbank has many scientists. Through them, we plan to conduct joint research projects with researchers from China”.

This was driven by Russia’s strategic “no limits” partnership and the emerging innovation of the low-cost LLM model, DeepSeek. The partnership also echoes Russia’s ambitions to enhance sovereignty and forge deeper ties with BRICS nations that are advanced in tech fields.

Russia’s Roscosmos space corporation also plans to embed the GigaChat model into the International Space Station’s (ISS) IT systems.

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said the next ISS mission, planned for November 27, will deliver everything needed for the model integration. Bakanov said this will provide direct assistance for the cosmonauts, helping the crew process satellite imagery and increase image resolution.

Sberbank is creating a hybrid tech-finance powerhouse

Parallel to its AI drive, Sberbank is also taking a dive into the crypto market. In early June, it launched structured bonds, which are tied to the Bitcoin price and the USD/RUB exchange rates.

The bonds are available over-the-counter (OTC) for qualified investors on the Moscow Stock Exchange. It also plans to launch more crypto exchange-traded products, including BTC futures. This move follows the Bank of Russia’s regulatory stance, which permits regulated crypto-based instruments for accredited investors.

With the simultaneous dive into AI and crypto finance, Sberbank is positioning itself as an innovator in both emerging fields. It also reflects Russia’s efforts to reinforce its domestic capabilities and carve out its share in global technology.

The coming months will reveal whether this pivot will pay off or stretch the bank thin in a highly competitive market, especially with the search engine Yandex, Sberbank’s main domestic rival in AI, saying its LLM has reasoning functionality.

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