The Russian government, together with business representatives, is discussing a radical change to the state control system. The discussion concerns the introduction of a moratorium on on-site inspections for companies that have implemented artificial intelligence-based solutions for remote monitoring at their facilities. This initiative, in my assessment, marks a transition from the traditional model of "an inspector arrived and checked" to a more modern, digital paradigm of oversight.
The essence of the proposal is to entrust algorithms with assessing compliance with requirements. If an enterprise has an AI system installed that can track key indicators in real time and identify violations, then a physical visit by a controller becomes redundant. This not only reduces the administrative burden on entrepreneurs but also preserves, and possibly enhances, the effectiveness of state oversight through continuous monitoring.
Inspection statistics: a downward trend
The trend toward reducing control measures is obvious. Last year, 273,000 inspections were conducted in Russia, which is 7% fewer than in 2024. At the same time, scheduled inspections decreased by 13%, and unscheduled ones by 6%. These figures confirm that the state is already moving toward less intrusive control, and the proposal on AI monitoring is a logical continuation of this policy.
Businesses, it seems, are ready for such a scenario. According to July data, about 95% of fast-growing companies already use AI as a working tool, and 74% consider it one of their main priorities. The infrastructure for this is being actively created: 71% of respondents call cloud services a basic condition for product development, and the next steps are multi-cloud and cloud cost control.
The AI market in Russia: scale and prospects
The technology is already having a serious impact on the labor market. According to expert estimates, about a third of jobs in the country are to some extent at risk due to AI adoption, although full automation affects less than 1% of positions. Algorithms are more likely to transform the content of work rather than displace people.
The artificial intelligence market in Russia is estimated at 316.1 billion rubles based on 2025 results, which is 29.7% more than the previous year. The baseline scenario assumes growth to 830 billion rubles by 2030. It is noteworthy that businesses are increasingly preferring not to buy equipment but to rent capacity and use ready-made solutions. Demand is shifting toward Chinese developments: Qwen, GLM, and Kimi are already squeezing competitors at the top of the rankings.
In parallel, the state is building an institutional framework: rules for "sovereign" models are being developed, and developers will be able to confirm their systems' compliance with the law in independent testing laboratories. Thus, remote AI oversight is becoming part of the overall restructuring of the industry.
My comment: The initiative looks timely and technologically justified. However, the key question lies in the criteria for trusting AI systems. If algorithms are certified according to unified standards, this will create a precedent for a complete overhaul of control and supervisory activities. For the crypto industry and fintech, where digital infrastructure is already the norm, such an approach could become a driver for reducing regulatory barriers.