Yakov and Partners - In the media

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According to Maksim Bolotskikh, major Russian companies that set about implementing AI agents typically rely on either foreign LLMs (GPT 4, Llama, or Claude) or closed-source domestic solutions with proprietary licenses and high server capacity requirements. He believes that releasing an open-source solution with a hybrid reasoning model sets a unique precedent for the domestic market

Maksim Bolotskikh, a Partner at Yakov and Partners, points out that the domestic generative network market is variously estimated at between RUB 10 and 15 billion. He adds that “key players set their sights on long-term prospects”

Despite the availability of foreign alternatives, most domestic companies have reservations about using them on a commercial scale due to the complexity of access, information security considerations, or in some cases, due to legislative restrictions, says Maxim Bolotskikh

Mass digitalization gives rise to cybercrime despite increased data protection measures. Fedor Chemashkin, CTO of Yakov and Partners Digital, comments on the current situation with data protection and whether the industry has been able to cope with talent shortages

“Domestic and international companies are beginning to actively use text and picture generation tools. Walmart claims that the time required to create advertising banners and campaigns in general has been slashed almost tenfold. Yet not every business manages to achieve such outstanding results, and a lot depends on how the process itself is structured. Carrefour and Metro reported a 15% to 30% increase in CTR after implementing content generation tools,” says Maksim Bolotskikh

Yakov and Partners experts estimate that the volume of new business in the domestic car leasing sector sagged 10% y.o.y. in 2024, from RUB 1.9 trillion down to 1.7 trillion. These figures are attributed to poor performance of the passenger car segment and shrinking of the truck segment. Alexey Moseychev explains that since trucks account for the greater share of the market (59%), it is the performance in this segment that had the greatest impact on the entire sector

Fedor Chemashkin, CTO of Yakov and Partners Digital, shared his vision for taking lead in the AI race. To ensure successful development in the current environment, Russia needs to make the most of its advantages, including strong scholarly traditions, high-quality engineering education, and the wealth of expertise in developing advanced technologies

One in two companies are experimenting with AI-based solutions, and one in five companies have used generative AI, say Yakov and Partners experts Maxim Bolotskikh and Marina Dorokhova. 55% of companies working with AI implement solutions in customer service, 52% of respondents implement solutions in marketing and sales, 46% of companies work with AI in production

Maxim Bolotskikh says that MDM systems designed for centralized master data management and ETL tools that ensure correct processing of data as it is moved between systems play an important role. In addition, companies employ data governance strategies which prescribe the rules, processes, and technologies used to manage data quality at all stages of the data lifecycle

Yandex is spinning off its self-driving vehicles business into an independent company to serve the B2B segment. Maxim Bolotskikh, a Partner at Yakov and Partners, believes that Yandex has laid the necessary technological groundwork and owns developments that can be commercialized. The company may reasonably be expected to start earning an operating profit in three to five years, provided that solutions are actively implemented in the commercial sector

The US government is contemplating new rules that will set caps for export of chips that power data centers and are used for AI development. Maxim Bolotskikh highlights the key challenges of the current situation. For example, it is US-produced chips that are predominantly used for training the most complex generative AI models in most countries around the world. Yet, for a number of countries, their application is fraught with difficulties, and the situation is not getting any better with each year

E-commerce in Russia has proven to be more adept at leveraging artificial intelligence than brick and mortar retailers: GenAI technology is used by 67% of online sellers and only 10% of traditional businesses. These were the findings of a joint study by Yakov and Partners and Yandex. The main areas of AI implementation are marketing and sales, customer service and supply chains

Largest IT players and government institutions lead the way in AI development in this country. Russian big-tech firms (first and foremost, Yandex, Sber, and VK) are the main driving force behind the development and wide-scale implementation of AI technologies. They invest in R&D, launch educational initiatives, set up data centers and integrate AI into everyday services, says Maksim Bolotskikh

A joint study by Yakov and Partners and the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence places Russia among the most favorable countries for the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) along with Israel, Singapore, the US, and the UAE. However, according to the study, as of 2024, in none of the countries does the regulatory framework yet cover the entire lifecycle of GenAI-based services

The first air taxis in Russia may start operating within three years. While it is too early to discuss their mass implementation at this time, they will initially be in a pilot phase, according to Maxim Bolotskikh, a partner at Yakov and Partners. "So far, I don't think it's time to talk about widespread use of autonomous taxis over the next year or two," he said. "However, we can expect the first test flights to take place within three years"

A ride in an autonomous taxi during its introduction in Russia is likely to be slightly more expensive than a traditional taxi, as the cost will include the development of innovative technologies and economies of scale may not be fully realized. However, the price of the service should not increase significantly to maintain competitiveness. This opinion was expressed by Maxim Bolotskikh, a partner at Yakov and Partners

Chatbots with artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, will be able to help people cope with anxiety, said Marina Dorokhova, Director of Yakov and Partners. "Together with Medsi, we have developed an AI assistant, and it is a psychologist who currently helps us work with emotions such as anxiety. In total, he has more than 60 different mechanics and tools that help a person in a chatbot mode and communicate with it"

AI will not replace humans, but it can help to reduce repetitive tasks and free up time for more creative work, according to Marina Dorokhova, a director of Yakov and Partners. She sees the neural network as a tool that can assist and support people in their work. Dorokhova emphasizes the importance of using AI to improve productivity and efficiency, while also allowing people to focus on more challenging and meaningful tasks

Electric cars will continue to gain popularity in the coming years: Maksim Bolotskikh, Partner at Yakov and Partners, predicts that the share of electric cars in total sales of passenger cars in Russia will reach 13–20% by 2030. The limited availability of charging stations is a deterrent to buying an electric car. According to a survey of motorists who are hesitant to buy an electric car, 42% of respondents name this factor as the main obstacle to making a purchase

Yakov and Partners’ Associate Nikita Vlasov points out that in smaller regional networks, the level of digitalization is considerably less profound than in the top 20 clinics. Market leaders have inhouse digital teams with dozens of IT specialists who implement their own MIS and AI for diagnostics. Joining a large platform gives smaller clinics a digital advantage, but more often than not, what motivates sales is high competition, complex economics, and the desire to scale the business