A discussion has flared up around the voice assistant "Alisa AI" regarding the possible expansion of its rights on Russian users' devices. The trigger was an initiative by the Ministry of Digital Development, suggesting the inclusion of the assistant in the list of software mandatory for pre-installation. However, Yandex hastened to set the record straight, stating that Alisa does not and will not have any unlimited access to user data, including banking applications.
Official Position: Safety Above All
Boris Ryutin, who heads the security group for "Alisa AI" and Yandex's self-driving transport, emphasized that the assistant's capabilities on mobile devices are always strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms. According to him, Alisa can only gain access to those functions and data for which the user has given explicit consent. There are no "loopholes" or hidden privileges that would allow it to bypass user permissions.
A company representative added that the device owner always chooses the assistant themselves in the settings — whether domestic or foreign. He called the right to choose a basic capability available to every user.
Ryutin also noted that "Alisa AI" receives no additional advantages over foreign models. It only has access to standard assistant functions, and rumors about granting it special powers have no basis.
Context: What Is Being Discussed in the Ministry of Digital Development
Earlier, media reports appeared that the Ministry of Digital Development is working on the issue of expanding requirements for pre-installed software. The point is for "Alisa AI" to gain the status of a "system assistant" with expanded access to the device's applications and functions. This raised concerns among analysts, who saw in it a risk of Yandex monopolizing the market.
The draft resolution itself, which could grant Alisa such powers, had already appeared on the portal of regulatory legal acts in early August but was then removed from public discussion for revision. The text mentioned the possibility of access to banking applications and other programs working with sensitive data. However, Yandex now officially denies the very possibility of such a scenario.
Analyst's View
The situation looks like a classic bargaining between the regulator and business. On the one hand, the Ministry of Digital Development wants to create equal conditions for domestic AI solutions; on the other, Yandex seeks to avoid reputational risks associated with accusations of spying on users. In an era when digital privacy issues are more acute than ever, such statements are not just a formality but a critically important element of trust in the product.