Yakutians are progressively opting for artificial intelligence over traditional photo editors
In the first half of 2025, Russia has witnessed a significant surge in interest towards websites with photo editors. Compared to the second half of 2024, this interest has increased by a staggering 2.4 times, according to recent data.
This rise in demand can be partly attributed to the general prevalence of photo editing resources and their professional use, particularly among photographers. Moreover, the high percentage of internet traffic usage in photo editors underscores the growing importance of these tools. In fact, traffic volume spent on photo editing resources has seen a 138% increase over the last year.
Vadim Zimin, Director of the Strategy and Sales Development Department at Megafon, has highlighted another trend: the increasing demand for AI smartphones. The best-selling smartphone brands with artificial intelligence in Russia during this period include HONOR, known for its AI-integrated foldable smartphones like the HONOR Magic V5 launched in mid-2025. Major global brands like Apple and Samsung also continue to integrate AI features into their devices. HONOR stands out for its strong AI ecosystem and new product launches during this period.
Sales of smartphones with AI features have also seen a 2.2 times increase in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Interestingly, demand for smartphones with AI features for photo processing without the need for additional apps has also grown by 2.2 times over the year.
When it comes to traffic consumption, men lead in photo editing, but there has been a noticeable increase in male users, now accounting for 48% of users on photo editing resources. Men aged 35-44 and women aged 25-34 are more likely to engage in photo editing. However, women accounted for 54% of users on these resources over the last year.
Neural network capabilities, including photo processing, are a significant factor in the high user interest in AI smartphones. The increase in demand for AI smartphones is attributed to the expansion of such gadgets on the market and high user interest in neural network capabilities.
In conclusion, the trend towards AI smartphones in Russia, particularly in the realm of photo editing, is on the rise. With the growing demand for AI-integrated devices and the continuous advancements in neural network capabilities, it seems that this trend will continue to shape the tech landscape in Russia and beyond.
