In recent days, the topic of granting the voice assistant "Alisa" from Yandex expanded powers on smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers of Russian users has been actively discussed online. My analysis shows that this initiative, being discussed in the Ministry of Digital Development, has sparked considerable debate and concern. However, the company itself has been quick to dispel the most alarming assumptions.
Yandex's official position: access is limited
Boris Ryutin, who is responsible for the security of "Alisa" and Yandex's autonomous vehicles, stated that the assistant does not have and will not receive unrestricted access to user data, including banking applications. According to him, the assistant's functionality will always be strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms. Access is only granted to the data and functions for which the user has given explicit and informed consent.
Ryutin emphasized that "Alisa" does not have and will not have an advantage over foreign counterparts. It only has access to standard assistant functions. The company also added that the device owner can always independently choose an assistant in the settings—whether Russian or foreign—and this right of choice is fundamental for every user.
The essence of the initiative: pre-installation and potential risks
The reason for the discussion was a project that, according to open sources, is being considered by the Ministry of Digital Development. It concerns a possible expansion of requirements for the pre-installation of Russian software on devices imported into the country. In this context, "Alisa" may be granted broader rights compared to other pre-installed applications.
The draft document, which had already appeared on the portal of regulatory legal acts but was withdrawn for revision, mentioned that the assistant could become a service with access to system functions, applications, notifications, authorization, and hardware capabilities. It was this wording that raised concerns among analysts, who see it as a risk of Yandex monopolizing the market.
My view on the situation
This whole story is a vivid example of how regulatory initiatives aimed at supporting domestic technologies can be perceived as an attempt to create unequal conditions. On the one hand, the desire to ensure "digital sovereignty" and limit the influence of foreign AI platforms is understandable. On the other hand, the very framing of the issue of expanded rights for a specific assistant creates a dangerous precedent. The most important thing here is guaranteed user control and transparency. If "Alisa" truly gains access to banking applications, it will become a critical point of trust, and any assurances of security must be backed by technical documentation and independent audits. For now, the market can only watch as events unfold, but it is already clear: the battle for ecosystems and user data in Russia is entering a new, more intense level.