Yandex has officially denied reports that its voice assistant "Alice AI" could gain unrestricted access to user data, including banking applications. Boris Ryutin, head of the security group for "Alice AI" and autonomous vehicles at the company, emphasized that the assistant's capabilities on mobile devices are always strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms.
According to him, access is possible exclusively to those functions and data for which the user has given explicit permission. "The assistant has no unrestricted access to user data, including banking applications," Ryutin stated. He also added that "Alice AI" does not receive any additional advantages over foreign models and operates within the standard functions of an assistant.
Context: what is being discussed at the Ministry of Digital Development
The reason for these statements was an initiative discussed at the Ministry of Digital Development to refine the rules for pre-installing domestic software on devices imported into Russia. The discussion concerns a possible expansion of "Alice AI's" rights on smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers. A draft resolution, which had appeared on the portal of regulatory legal acts and then disappeared, mentioned that the artificial intelligence assistant could gain access to system functions, applications, notifications, and hardware capabilities of the device.
Experts are particularly concerned about the potential ability to access banking applications that store confidential data: account balances, CVC/CVV codes, and passport details. Such programs are also used for transfers and loan applications. Yandex emphasizes that the device owner can always independently choose an assistant in the settings — whether Russian or foreign — and this right of choice remains fundamental.
Market monopolization and "sovereign" models
Analysts see in this initiative a risk of Yandex monopolizing the market. The simultaneous pre-installation and potential expansion of rights could place "Alice AI" in a unique position among other applications. The Ministry of Digital Development explains the need for changes as a task to ensure transparent access rules and eliminate the advantages of manufacturers' built-in solutions.
Separately, the pre-installation of a "system AI assistant based on sovereign or national foundational models" is being discussed. The legislative framework for this is already in place: in July 2026, the law "On Supporting the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Russia" was adopted. The requirement to pre-install Russian software has been in effect since spring 2021, and the list of mandatory programs is regularly expanded — in July 2026, it included Yandex Browser, Yandex Maps, 2GIS, Mail.ru Mail, the national messenger "Max," and others.
Analyst's comment: The situation is telling: on the one hand, the state seeks to limit foreign players and create a "sovereign" ecosystem; on the other, Yandex is trying to distance itself from accusations of receiving exclusive privileges. However, it is critically important for the market that regulatory changes do not lead to the actual entrenchment of a monopoly by one player under the guise of "national security." In the long term, this could harm not only competition but also user trust in domestic AI solutions.