There have been many anxious expectations surrounding the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Development to expand the powers of the voice assistant "Alisa AI." However, Yandex hastened to cool the ardor of analysts and users, stating that the assistant does not and will not receive any unlimited access to personal data, including banking applications.
Official Position of Yandex
Boris Ryutin, head of the security group for "Alisa AI" and Yandex's autonomous transport, emphasized that the assistant's capabilities on mobile devices are always strictly limited by the security mechanisms of the operating system. According to him, "Alisa" can only interact with those data and functions for which the user has given explicit and informed consent. He categorically rejected assumptions that the assistant would gain any advantages over foreign counterparts or access to sensitive information stored in banking utilities.
Context of the Initiative
The cause for concern was the amendments to the rules for pre-installing domestic software on devices imported into Russia, discussed in the Ministry of Digital Development. The issue concerns the potential expansion of "Alisa's" rights on smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers. In the draft document, which has already disappeared from the portal of regulatory legal acts, the assistant could have been granted the status of a "system assistant" with access to system functions, applications, and notifications. It was precisely this wording that raised experts' concerns about Yandex monopolizing the market and creating unequal conditions for other developers.
What This Means for the Market
It is worth noting that the requirement to pre-install Russian software has been in effect since the spring of 2021, and the list of programs is regularly updated. In July 2026, it included Yandex Browser, Yandex Maps, 2GIS, Mail.ru Mail, and others. "Alisa AI" is also present on this list. However, the key question is not the fact of pre-installation, but the scope of rights that may be granted to the assistant.
Judging by the statements of Yandex representatives, the company is aware of the full degree of responsibility and risks associated with access to users' financial data. In conditions where banking applications store a mass of confidential information—from account balances to CVC codes and passport data—any talk of expanding the rights of AI assistants requires extreme caution.
My view: The initiative to expand "Alisa's" rights is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it could lead to the creation of a truly integrated and convenient digital assistant. On the other hand, it carries serious risks for competition and security. The fact that Yandex publicly disavows "unlimited access" is a positive signal, but final conclusions can only be drawn after the final version of the bill appears. In an era when data has become the new oil, the struggle for control over it will only intensify.