A discussion has flared up around Yandex's voice assistant "Alice AI" regarding the possible expansion of its rights on Russians' devices. However, as it turns out, fears about unrestricted access to user data, including banking applications, have no real basis. Boris Ryutin, head of the security group for "Alice AI" and Yandex's self-driving transport, stated directly that the assistant's functionality on mobile devices is always strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms.
According to him, "Alice" can only gain access to the data and functions for which the user has given explicit permission. The neural network has no "carte blanche" to read banking applications or collect sensitive information. Ryutin emphasized that the device owner can always independently choose a pre-installed assistant—Russian or foreign—and this fundamental right remains unchanged.
Moreover, the company representative added that "Alice AI" does not receive any additional capabilities or advantages over foreign models. It only has access to standard assistant functions, which puts an end to speculation about its "omnipresence."
Context: what the Ministry of Digital Development wants to change
The reason for the discussion was the Ministry of Digital Development's initiative to refine the rules for pre-installing domestic software on devices imported into Russia. The focus is on expanding requirements for "Alice AI," which is already on the list of mandatory programs. Earlier, the possibility of granting the assistant expanded rights on par with other system applications was discussed, raising experts' concerns about Yandex monopolizing the market.
A draft resolution that could have given the AI assistant access to banking applications and other programs handling sensitive data appeared on the regulatory acts portal in August 2026 but was withdrawn from public discussion for revision. The ministry explained the need for changes as a task to ensure transparent rules for device access and eliminate advantages of manufacturers' built-in solutions.
Notably, in parallel, the pre-installation of a "system AI assistant based on sovereign or national foundational models" is being discussed. A legislative basis for this already exists: in July 2026, the law "On Supporting the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Russia" was adopted.
The requirement to pre-install Russian software on new smartphones, tablets, and computers has been in effect since spring 2021, and the list of programs is regularly expanded. In July 2026, "Yandex Browser," "Yandex Maps," 2GIS, "Mail.ru Mail," and other applications were added to it. At the same time, users retain the right to remove pre-installed software.
My view: This whole story is a classic example of how regulatory uncertainty breeds rumors. Yandex is forced to publicly justify itself for initiatives that may not even be its own. However, long-term risks for the market remain: if "Alice" does gain expanded rights, it would create a dangerous precedent for competition and privacy. The developments should be watched very closely.