Russian lender Sberbank has launched its own conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform, GigaChat, to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT. The technology is currently in invite-only testing mode and is capable of communicating more intelligently in Russian than other foreign neural networks. GigaChat is part of Sberbank's push into technology, as it seeks to reduce Russia's reliance on imports and expand its offerings beyond traditional banking services. The launch of GigaChat follows the release of ChatGPT last year, which has led to a surge in the development of AI chatbots and other conversational interfaces in the technology sector.

According to reports, GigaChat is capable of understanding and processing natural language, and can be used to develop virtual assistants, chatbots, and other conversational interfaces. The platform uses machine learning algorithms to improve its responses and can be customised for different business needs.