Yandex officially denied reports that its voice assistant "Alice AI" gains unrestricted access to user data, including banking applications. Boris Ryutin, head of the security group for "Alice AI" and Yandex's autonomous vehicles, stated that the assistant's capabilities on mobile devices are always strictly limited by the operating system's security mechanisms. Access is granted exclusively to the data and functions for which the user has given explicit permission.
This statement came in response to an initiative actively discussed at the Ministry of Digital Development, according to which "Alice AI" could receive expanded rights on smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers, as well as be added to the list of software mandatory for pre-installation. Market analysts see in this a potential risk of market monopolization by Yandex.
What exactly did Yandex respond
Ryutin emphasized that the assistant does not have and cannot have any "advantages" over foreign models. "Alice AI" does not receive additional capabilities, and its functionality is limited to the basic functions of an assistant. Moreover, the company representative added that the device owner has the right to independently choose an assistant in the settings — whether Russian or foreign. He called the right to choose a basic capability available to every user.
The essence of the legislative initiative
The cause for concern was a draft regulation discussed at the Ministry of Digital Development. It concerns the refinement of rules for pre-installing domestic applications on devices imported into Russia. The document's text mentioned that an "AI assistant" could become a service with access to system functions, applications, notifications, authorization, and hardware capabilities. This raised fears that "Alice AI" would receive carte blanche to access banking applications and other programs that collect sensitive data.
However, it is important to note that the draft regulation itself has already disappeared from the portal of regulatory legal acts. According to my information, the document was posted for public discussion in early August 2026, but was then suddenly removed. Currently, it appears to be being refined taking into account the comments received.
Context and risks
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, "Yandex Browser," "Yandex Maps," 2GIS, "Mail.ru Mail," the national messenger "Max," and a number of other applications were added to it. "Alice AI" is already included in this list.
The combination of mandatory pre-installation and potential expansion of rights raises serious concerns for me. If "Alice" gains unique access to banking data, it would create a precedent where one corporation gains disproportionate influence over citizens' financial lives. This is not just a matter of competition; it is a matter of fundamental security and trust in the digital ecosystem. It is gratifying that Yandex understands this and is trying to ease excessive tension, but final guarantees can only be provided by clear and transparent legislative wording, not public statements.