Study names top purpose for AI use among Russians

Lazy eyes listen

NewsRescue

According to a survey conducted by the Avito analytical centre, one in every three Russians has used neural networks in the last three months, usually for recreational purposes, according to business magazine Inc. Russia on Monday.

The report claimed that awareness of AI tools across the country is “high,” stating that over half of respondents in almost all regions have utilised neural networks in the previous three months. According to the data, the bulk of AI users in Russia (60%) are between the ages of 18 and 24, with 20% using AI on a daily basis.

According to the poll results, the top reason for AI use among all respondents was entertainment (59%), followed by learning (33%), and work (26%).

Breaking down the age groups, the survey showed that most respondents aged 18-24 use AI for study (47%) and work (28%). The majority aged 25-34 use it for entertainment (64%) and work (29%), while those aged 54 and older use neural networks for household (17%), financial (19%), and medical (23%) tasks.

According to the magazine, the most popular neural network tasks among Russians include creating photos (39%), writings (30%), and selecting or recommending films and music (23%).

According to Andrey Rybintsev, chief data officer at Avito, AI has learned to be a “skilled invisible assistant” in everyday life and has become “indispensable” in business, solving labor-intensive tasks and assisting in resource reallocation.

According to Inc., the Russian neural network YandexGPT is the most popular overall among research participants (56%), followed by ChatGPT (29%), and Kandinsky (13%). ChatGPT is most popular (53%) among younger users, according to the study.

The use of ChatGPT by a student at the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU) caused controversy in February, when he announced he had written and successfully defended his thesis with the help of an AI-powered chatbot. He claimed the whole project took 23 hours, with about 15 hours spent working with ChatGPT and the rest on editing, while his classmates reportedly spent weeks writing their theses.

After the student shared the story on X (formerly Twitter), RGGU received complaints asking for his diploma to be revoked. The university then called for “restricting access to ChatGPT in educational facilities.”

When asked about the future of artificial intelligence, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated earlier this month that it is “impossible” to stop its progress. Russia must “lead” this process and become a prominent participant in this field, he added.

The president emphasised that world leaders must avoid creating conditions that could lead to AI risks to humans, because “no one knows” what will happen.