Russian AI System Goes to Space: GigaChat Will Assist Cosmonauts

Russia has launched an AI system into space—literally. GigaChat, developed by Sber, traveled aboard the Soyuz MS‑28 spacecraft, marking the first time a Russian generative AI model has joined the crew of the International Space Station. Its role is both functional and symbolic: demonstrating how autonomous AI could support crews when Earth is minutes or even hours away.

A Voice That Becomes a Diary

On the station, GigaChat’s primary job is to convert cosmonauts’ spoken notes into structured text. This replaces the old workflow, where audio logs were transmitted to Earth for transcription—a slow, resource‑heavy process. Now astronauts can produce mission logs, personal diary entries, and experiment reports instantly, without interrupting work. It is a quality‑of‑life upgrade with real operational impact.

Built for Missions Where Earth Is Not an Option

Technically, the system functions as a self‑contained computing complex: an autonomous laptop‑server running a localized version of GigaChat 2.0, three tablets serving as personal terminals, and secure Wi‑Fi inside the station segment. It operates fully offline with no access to external servers—an absolute requirement for cybersecurity and a rehearsal for future deep‑space missions, where communication with Earth will be intermittent or unavailable.

Hardware limitations add another layer of engineering challenge. Sending racks of GPU servers into orbit is impossible, so GigaChat had to be optimized to operate on modest computational resources without degrading quality. The model includes an expanded vocabulary tailored to orbital tasks: technical acronyms, instructions, experiment nomenclature, and terminology from Russian and international regulations.

GigaChat 2.0 can process text, images, voice, and audio, enabling cosmonauts to document events on the fly without navigating complex interfaces. The equipment is hardened against noise, interference, and environmental effects unique to orbital conditions.

Toward AI‑Enabled Space Operations

Soon, the system may assume more advanced tasks: automating scientific data processing, accelerating report generation, interacting with onboard databases, and potentially assisting crews during long‑duration missions. According to Sber and Roscosmos representatives, this launch is only the first step. The goal is to make artificial intelligence a standard part of the cosmonaut’s toolkit—just as essential as communication gear or onboard diagnostics.

Expert Outlook

The project highlights a major milestone for Russia’s AI industry. It proves that locally developed generative models can function in isolated, resource‑restricted environments—a requirement for future lunar bases, interplanetary flights, and autonomous scientific missions. By adapting AI to orbital constraints, Russian engineers are laying groundwork for technologies that could shape the next era of crewed exploration.