The question of the boundaries of voice assistants' authority has once again come into focus. This time, it concerns "Alisa" from Yandex, around which discussions flared up after the emergence of an initiative about a possible expansion of its rights on devices of Russian users. However, the company hastened to set the record straight, stating that the assistant does not receive and will not receive unlimited access to sensitive information, including banking applications.
Yandex's Official Position
Boris Ryutin, who heads the security group for "Alisa" and Yandex's self-driving transport, gave a clear response to public concerns. According to him, the assistant's capabilities on mobile devices are always strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms. "Alisa" can interact only with those data and functions for which the user has given explicit consent. There is no "background" or automatic access to banking utilities, messages, or other confidential information, and none is anticipated.
Ryutin emphasized that the device owner always retains the right to choose an assistant—whether Russian or foreign. This choice, in his words, is a fundamental principle that will not be violated. He also noted that "Alisa" receives no advantages over foreign models and operates within the standard functionality available to any assistant.
The Essence of the Legislative Initiative
The reason for such a heated reaction was information that the Ministry of Digital Development is discussing refinements to the rules for pre-installing domestic software on devices imported into Russia. This concerns the possible inclusion of "Alisa" in the list of mandatory programs, as well as granting it expanded rights. Behind the scenes, a scenario was discussed in which the assistant could gain access to system functions, notifications, and even applications working with sensitive data.
However, as it turned out, the draft resolution, which had already appeared on the regulatory acts portal in early August, was suddenly removed from public discussion. According to available information, the document is currently being revised. The original version did indeed mention that an AI-based assistant could become a "service with access to system functions," which is what alarmed experts.
Risks and Prospects
Market analysts see a serious conflict of interest in this situation. On one hand, the requirement to pre-install "Alisa" has been in effect since 2021, and it is included in the list of mandatory software. On the other hand, granting it exclusive access rights could create a precedent for monopolizing the market and confront users with total control by a single player. That is precisely why Yandex is so persistently refuting any speculation about the assistant receiving special status.
Nevertheless, the very fact that such initiatives are being discussed in the government raises questions. If previously the logic of regulation was aimed at limiting foreign technologies, now there is a temptation to create a "national champion" with unlimited authority, which carries no less risk to privacy than external threats.
My comment: This whole story is a classic example of how regulatory uncertainty breeds rumors. The market needs clear and transparent rules of the game for AI assistants, not targeted decisions in favor of one player. Otherwise, we risk ending up in a situation where the fight for digital sovereignty turns into the creation of a new, even more powerful digital monopolist, before which even the most modern data protection mechanisms would be powerless.