On November 4, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that he would use artificial intelligence (AI) along with other tools to collect and process questions from Russian citizens sent to President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming "Direct Line" program for dialogue with people nationwide.
"We will start collecting people's questions in 2 weeks, using all the available tools, including artificial intelligence," Mr. Peskov said. He explained that the application of AI will allow the fastest way to convey the most comprehensive picture of public opinion to the President during the preparation process.
"Lightline" is an important annual event in Russia, broadcast live nationwide. In this hour-long program, President Putin will answer questions from all classes of people across the country, from social security issues, local economy to major foreign policy issues.
This event is considered an important tool for the Kremlin to grasp the thoughts and aspirations of the people, and is also an opportunity for the President to resolve urgent issues on the spot.
Normally, the program receives millions of questions, messages and calls. The use of AI is expected to help the organizing committee classify, synthesize and identify the most prominent topics and issues that people are interested in more effectively than manual methods.
On September 17, President Putin directed the government and his office to begin preparations for the dialogue. The most recent event, called the "Year-end Summary with President Vladimir Putin," was held on December 19, 2024. This is the third time Russia has used a combined format, combining the "Direct Line" program (answers to the people) and a major year-end press conference (answers to the press), a form first introduced in 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic.
Initially, these two events were held separately. Mr. Putin's first live Q&A program on television with the people took place in 2001. The continuous improvement of the form, and now the application of AI, shows the Kremlin's efforts to maintain and modernize this live communication channel with the public.
