The HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge conducted a survey on AI adoption among Russian internet users. The study, based on data from 3,167 respondents collected between June and August 2026, reveals that 79% of users have interacted with AI tools in the last three months.
Usage frequency is high, with 24% of users engaging with AI daily and 37% several times a week. Adoption is most prevalent among younger demographics, reaching 93% for those aged 14–17 and 92% for those aged 18–24. Geographic location also influences usage, with urban areas showing 81% adoption compared to 71% in rural settings.
Voice assistants (58%) and browser-integrated AI (42%) remain the most popular tools. Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and GigaChat are used by 34% of respondents. Users primarily leverage AI for information retrieval (52%), image generation (34%), and text translation or editing (28% and 27% respectively).
Only 21% of internet users reported not using AI tools recently. The primary reason cited for non-usage is a lack of necessity or interest (60%). Notably, awareness has surged, with only 1% of non-users claiming they have never heard of AI services, a significant drop from 18% recorded two years ago.
