Pushkin, Close at Hand: Why Russia Is Bringing Its Great Writers to Life With AI
A new AI‑generated film in Russia brings iconic writers like Pushkin, Lermontov, and Chekhov into the modern world, showcasing how artificial intelligence is reshaping culture, storytelling, and national identity.
From Pushkin With Love
Russia has released an unusual cinematic project: a hybrid AI‑driven film titled “KlassikiI,” created by Sber together with a team of filmmakers. The premiere took place at AI Journey in Moscow, where viewers saw Alexander Pushkin walking through present‑day St. Petersburg, Mikhail Lermontov in twenty‑first‑century Pyatigorsk, and Anton Chekhov in modern Khabarovsk.
The film blends classical aesthetics with cutting‑edge neural‑network generation. Multiple creative teams across Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Perm, Yelabuga, and Yoshkar‑Ola contributed to the anthology. Each short story examines how personal experience intertwines with history, shaping one’s sense of home and identity. The films will soon be available on major streaming platforms.
According to the creators, this is “the first time in Russia that artificial intelligence has acted as a full co‑author of a feature film.”
A New Kind of Dialogue
The innovative format tackles several problems at once. First, it helps reach diverse audiences. Young people who grew up interacting with digital assistants are often more drawn to a technologically reimagined Pushkin than to another traditional biographical portrayal. Viral online clips of poets brought to life by AI have already sparked renewed interest in Russian literature.
Second, the project advances technology. AI‑generated video is becoming more realistic, expressive, and dynamic. The process helps refine neural networks into precise, thoughtful creative tools—a universal “brush” for digital artists. Where film once relied on practical effects and later on 3D rendering, AI now represents the next evolutionary leap, enabling near‑limitless visual experimentation.
The work also strengthens Russia’s technological sovereignty. Engineers continue to develop new creative AI systems, building the foundation for long‑term IT leadership and setting new industry standards.
The Experience Economy
Large technology companies increasingly invest in cultural and educational innovation. As a digital giant, Sber supports projects at the intersection of science, creativity, and immersive storytelling. In the experience‑driven economy, the ability to surprise and emotionally engage audiences is the most valuable outcome—and the hardest to achieve.
“KlassikiI” also addresses a broader national question: how to speak about heritage, art, and patriotism sincerely and without didacticism. The challenge is global. In an era of cultural homogenization, identity and heritage become critical topics, and film remains one of the most accessible mediums for meaningful conversation with mass audiences.
AI + Culture
The fusion of AI and culture is becoming a defining trend in Russia. Museums, libraries, and galleries are digitizing archives at scale, while immersive VR exhibitions recreate lost artifacts and bring history closer to the public. These experiences increase engagement with classical culture and introduce it to new generations.
Sber and other companies are focusing heavily on generative AI, which has evolved at remarkable speed. GigaChat, introduced in 2022, has grown from a Q&A chatbot into a full‑fledged content engine powering smart speakers, robots, ATMs, and international AI platforms—and now, filmmaking.
Such technologies could become promising exports. Russia’s generative systems already operate in dozens of national languages and dialects, making them well positioned for use in culturally diverse regions.
AI for Export
AI generation is now a global race, with major tech companies competing to define the next era of creativity. While predicting market scale is difficult, experts agree the opportunities are vast. Projects like “KlassikiI” illustrate how AI can unlock new artistic forms and serve as a catalyst for cultural innovation.
For Russia, with its multicultural landscape, integrating AI into creative industries presents fewer risks than for other countries. The technology is already capable of producing content that reflects multiple cultural codes, offering a foundation for future international applications.
