The New Literacy: AI Skills Are Becoming Mandatory

In Russia, artificial intelligence literacy is rapidly becoming a baseline skill, much like PC proficiency once was. Sberbank, the country’s largest financial institution, now requires all employees—current and future—to use AI tools in their work.

From Teller to Engineer: AI for All

On July 23, Sberbank added AI proficiency to its list of mandatory job requirements. This applies not only to new hires but to existing employees as well. It doesn’t mean a cashier unfamiliar with AI will be fired—it means they’ll receive training. Sber has already built its own in-house educational program.

Finance has long been a proving ground for digital transformation. AI supports everything from customer interactions and HR to security and data analytics. That’s why AI tools are now essential across all roles—whether you’re in a call center, risk department, or credit office. Tech literacy is no longer the domain of IT staff—it’s a foundational competency for everyone.

A Response to the Times

The shift toward AI is time-driven and transformation-focused. By 2020, Russian banks had begun integrating virtual assistants into mobile apps in response to customer frustration with long waits and email delays. These bots quickly learned to interpret queries, offer immediate answers, and suggest personalized products.

Artificial intelligence is a booster for everyone’s productivity. It’s hard to find a field where AI tools are irrelevant. And we see that employees who master these technologies often perform exponentially better. That’s why we value people who know how to use AI—not just at work, but in life.

Alexander Vedyakhin

First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at Sberbank

With new capabilities come new risks. In 2021, Russia’s Central Bank launched a national cybersecurity course for financial professionals to reinforce digital culture and protect against growing cyber threats.

By 2022–2023, major institutions like Sber, VTB, and Gazprombank launched their own AI labs and training platforms, signaling a long-term investment in human capital.

Beyond Banking: A Nationwide Trend

AI literacy is already proving its value—fewer errors, faster data processing, and improved customer experiences. Even non-premium clients now receive customized services.

While the requirement is currently specific to banking, expansion is being discussed in telecom, insurance, energy, and public administration.

Russia is also positioning itself as an exporter of AI education programs in finance. Countries across BRICS, the CIS, and Asia—where digital economies outpace talent training—are watching closely.

The New Normal for Everyone?

Russia is betting big on digital literacy, with AI skills emerging as the new norm. The future won’t just be built by algorithms—but by people who understand, shape, and deploy them.

Very soon, learning AI may not be optional. It could be essential. And in that necessity lies the opportunity to become part of the economy of tomorrow.