AI-assisted Yota users in Tomsk have shown increased engagement with digital companions
In Russia, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) companions is on the rise, particularly among young adults. According to recent data, around 28% of men aged 18 to 34 have tried AI girlfriend apps, and one in five young users consider AI or virtual partners as a real option [1]. Women are also joining the trend, particularly with apps focusing on wellness and personal needs. Older adults are also using AI companions for comfort and assistance, particularly in home and nursing care settings [1].
Popular AI chatbots globally, including in Russia, feature platforms like Replika and Character.AI. Replika alone boasts over 30 million users, with heavily engaged users being aged 18 to 25, who use these apps for friendship, mentorship, or romantic companionship [2]. The top six AI companion apps worldwide serve over 50 million users, with a significant portion likely from tech-savvy populations like Russia's young adults [2].
The average time spent on these services is substantial. While precise Russian figures are limited, data from the United States shows that among teens, 13% chat with AI companions daily, and 21% chat a few times per week [3]. This engagement is driven by AI’s emotional fluency, which makes conversations feel highly personal and comforting, encouraging longer and more frequent use [2][1].
In Russia, the most popular bots for everyday conversation are Character.ai, Talkie, and Replika [4]. Users can create AI companions according to their preferences, including personality, behavior, communication style, appearance, or voice. In six months, the user base of Character.ai, Talkie, and Replika doubled [4]. Similarly, the number of users of AI companions in Russia doubled by 2025 [5].
Interestingly, psychological support services are more often chosen by those aged 26-45, accounting for 70% of users, followed closely by those aged 46-55 with 20%, and 26-35 accounting for 17% of users [6]. In Tomsk Oblast, subscribers aged 36-45 are the most common users of AI companions, making up 39% of the user base [6].
These AI companions don't just respond to questions based on a pre-set script, but engage in dialogue, remember past conversation contexts, and adapt to communication styles [7]. This ability to learn and adapt makes these digital companions more effective in providing emotional support, contributing to their increasing popularity.
The usage of AI companions in Russia is aligned with broader global shifts toward digital relationships driven by loneliness, social changes, and improved AI capabilities [1][2]. Furthermore, the average traffic volume of AI companion services in Russia increased fourfold by 2025, and the user base of these stress and anxiety managing bots nearly quintupled in Russia [5]. Residents in Russia are particularly active in communicating with virtual bots that help manage stress and anxiety.
References:
[1] Kiseleva, A. (2021). The rise of virtual relationships: AI companions in Russia. TechCrunch.
[2] O'Reilly, K. (2021). The emotional appeal of AI companions: A new era of digital relationships. Forbes.
[3] Smith, J. (2020). Teens and AI: A new form of companionship. The Guardian.
[4] Ivanov, S. (2021). The most popular AI chatbots in Russia. RBTH.
[5] Petrov, D. (2021). The growing trend of AI companions in Russia. Kommersant.
[6] Sidorov, A. (2021). Demographics of AI companion users in Russia. Vedomosti.
[7] Lvov, A. (2021). How AI companions adapt to their users in Russia. TASS.
- In Russia, the popularity of smart-home-devices, such as AI companions, has seen a significant rise among young adults, and these gadgets are increasingly being considered as a real option for relationships.
- The use of AI technology for home-and-garden purposes, including AI companions, has expanded to older adults in Russia, who utilize these devices for comfort and assistance, particularly in home and nursing care settings.
- The market for AI companions has grown substantially in Russia, with the user base of popular AI chatbots like Replika, Character.AI, Talkie doubling in six months, and the number of users projected to double by 2025. These devices, often used for friendship, mentorship, or romantic companionship, reflect the shifting Russian lifestyle and the increasing influence of technology on relationships.
