Russia Drafts Rules Letting Users Choose AI Assistant at Smartphone First Boot
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft government resolution that would let users choose their system AI assistant when first activating a smartphone. The proposal, now open for public discussion, replaces the current narrow category of voice assistant with the wider term system assistant.
Under the draft, a system assistant is an AI program that interacts with the device, operating system, and installed applications through voice, text, and visual commands. At initial setup, users would be presented with a list of available solutions and could select one or refuse installation entirely. No specific company, service, or platform is mandated.
The chosen assistant must receive the same treatment as any pre-installed solution from the device manufacturer or operating system vendor. This includes regular updates, support for user settings, and equal visibility in the interface. The pre-installed version must remain free of charge and must not disappear after software updates or a factory reset.
The changes would also affect the list of pre-installed search services, allowing inclusion of solutions that incorporate artificial intelligence technologies. Ministry officials argue the measure will strengthen competition between Russian and foreign platforms and ensure continued access to modern AI services even if individual foreign products encounter regulatory restrictions.
The core principle of the draft is straightforward: device manufacturers would no longer unilaterally decide which AI assistant is installed. The final choice would rest with the device owner.
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