A study by SkillStaff, conducted in September 2026 with over 1,000 IT professionals, reveals that 74% of specialists use AI tools daily or several times a week. While 70% of respondents report faster task completion, only 18% fear job cuts due to AI. Instead, 20% of participants express concern that AI makes it harder for entry-level workers to secure their first jobs.
Efficiency gains vary, with 28% of users noting a 1.5–2x speed increase, while 43% report a 20–30% improvement. Primary use cases include documentation, email drafting, and translations (55%), followed by routine automation like scripting and data parsing (35%). Developers specifically utilize AI for code writing (25%) and bug detection (29%).
Corporate adoption remains fragmented, as only 30% of companies have established clear AI guidelines. Meanwhile, 26% of firms have banned specific tools, and 27% of employees are unaware of any official policy. Consequently, 52% of specialists learn new AI tools directly on the job through trial and error.
Financial investment in AI tools is notable, with 65% of specialists willing to pay for subscriptions out of pocket. Specifically, 32% are prepared to spend at least 1,500 ₽ monthly. Only 18% of respondents have their AI tools funded by their employers, while 17% rely exclusively on free versions.
