AI in HR: Almost half of Russian companies have already entrusted hiring to neural networks
The Russian labor market is undergoing a fundamental shift: 49% of employers are already actively using artificial intelligence in the recruitment process, and another 21% plan to implement these technologies in the near future. In total, this means that 70% of companies have either already automated recruiting or are on the verge of doing so.
My analysis of fresh data from the consulting company get experts, the response-review platform "June," and the interview service "Sobeso" shows that AI has ceased to be an experimental option and has become the de facto standard for HR processes.
Where algorithms deliver real value
Among companies that have already implemented neural networks, the leading use of AI is for writing job descriptions—this scenario was noted by 64% of respondents. In second place is transcribing and analyzing interviews (36%), which significantly saves recruiters' time. Next comes generating personalized letters to candidates (31%), while initial screening and ranking of applicants each garnered 29%.
The effect of implementation is rated as "noticeable": 55% of companies reported a reduction in routine tasks, 36% reported a decrease in the workload on recruiters, and 20% reported faster filling of vacancies. However, budgets for automation are still modest: about 68% of companies spend less than 500,000 rubles per year, and only 5% allocate over 2 million rubles.
Barriers and distrust
Despite the obvious advantages, 46% of employers who have refused AI or do not plan to implement it consider the human factor critically important. Concerns include bias in neural networks (41%), a lack of expertise (32%), and doubts about return on investment (29%). Additionally, companies cite limited budgets, the requirements of Federal Law No. 152-FZ "On Personal Data," and the risk of information leaks.
Macro trend: AI is reshaping the economy
Hiring is just one of the areas where neural networks are gaining a foothold in the Russian economy. According to Sber's estimates, generative technologies will add 1.2 percentage points to labor productivity, primarily in office professions, while physical labor remains outside the direct influence of algorithms. Analysts at AIANA calculated that the country's AI market grew by 29.7% in 2025, reaching 316.1 billion rubles, and by 2030 the baseline scenario assumes growth to 830 billion rubles.
The state is simultaneously building a regulatory framework: education and public services have been named priority platforms for implementing sovereign neural networks, and a working group on AI and the media industry has been created under the government to define the rules for training models and the procedure for owning generated content.
My conclusion: recruitment automation is not a trend but an inevitable stage in the evolution of HR. Companies that do not integrate AI within the next 2-3 years risk losing the competitive battle for talent. However, the key challenge is not technology but trust: businesses will have to find a balance between the efficiency of algorithms and preserving human judgment in making personnel decisions.