The role and place of law in the battle for artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, systems, and algorithms 3are steadily evolving. States are emerging that seek to take a leading position in this process. “Strong” AI will certainly give undeniable advantages to those who will be the first to develop it and enlist its support. Therefore, it seems necessary and timely to consider the role and place of law in the battle for AI. The author proceeds from the objective-subjective setting of the world, assuming the emergence of AI as part of objective reality and an objective process of human development. Scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance are determined by the purpose of research, the range of sources and problems studied. As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that not only whose AI is strongest matters, but also the country whose legal standards become the world language of AI wins. Through the prism of three axes, including stimulating tools (sandbox, State standards (GOSTs, etc.), protective mechanisms (safety ethics, criminal norms, etc.) and geopolitical aspects of the struggle for standards, regulatory models of Russia, China, the United States of America and the European Union in the field of artificial intelligence are analyzed. In this context, possible links between countries in the world in modern times under conditions of multi-polarity are analyzed. An optimal legal strategy for Russia is proposed, and the author concludes that the best way forward for Russia lies in a flexible development model based on incentives + security and exporting norms and standards through EAEU and BRICS followed by disseminating them with support for initiatives in global governance, such as those expressed by Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in September 2025 as a step towards the “win-win” scenario.