AI chatbots now rank higher than influencers in Russian consumer trust

A survey of 3,654 Russians conducted in October 2026 by agency Yarko and marketplace Vyberu.ru found that 31% trust AI recommendations when buying goods or services. That puts chatbots ahead of influencer reviews at 23%, brand websites at 18%, and brand ads at 17%.

Friends and family advice still dominate at 72%, followed by customer reviews at 67%. AI sits below these human sources but above paid channels because people see it as less biased.

Disclosure helps: 62% accept AI use in advertising if brands are open about it, while only 6% reject it outright. The commercial impact remains strong, with 87% saying they have bought something after seeing an ad.

Based on information from cryptonews.net