AI Investing: One in Three Russian Retail Investors Now Trust Artificial Intelligence with Their Portfolio
What sounded like sci-fi just a few years ago has become routine: one-third of Russian retail investors already use AI tools to build and rebalance their portfolios — a shift driven by rapid fintech adoption and the mainstreaming of robo-advisory systems.
AI Adoption in Retail Investing Doubles in One Year
According to a joint study by the financial marketplace Vyberu.ru and IT Smart Finance Group, the share of investors using AI for portfolio management has nearly doubled over the past year — from 19% to 33%. AI is no longer a niche tool for quantitative analysts; it is becoming a core element of personal finance for millions of citizens.
The scale is significant. Moscow Exchange reports that by early 2025, over 35 million individuals had opened brokerage accounts in Russia, with 300,000–400,000 new accounts added every month. As fintech platforms mature, AI assistants are turning into a default layer of the digital economy.
Algorithms Are Choosing What to Buy
The survey shows that 33% of investors use AI to analyze asset data — stocks, bonds, ETFs, and other instruments. Another 20% delegate full security selection to algorithms, effectively treating AI not as a helper but as a financial advisor with decision-making authority.
This shift has been enabled by domestic fintech platforms integrating AI into mobile apps: from basic volatility alerts to full robo-advisor modules that generate personalized portfolios based on risk tolerance, investment horizon, and real-time market signals. Adoption is especially strong among younger users who view finance through a “mobile-first” interface.
Democratizing Access to Financial Intelligence
AI-driven investing is accelerating financial inclusion. Not long ago, high-quality analytics and active portfolio management were services limited to private banking clients. Today, anyone with a smartphone and a brokerage account can access the same capabilities.
The trend is also reshaping the Russian tech sector: the demand for locally developed, regulation-compliant AI models is growing fast. Developers are building systems tailored to domestic tax rules, securities law, and market structure — laying the foundation for a national smart-finance ecosystem.
At the same time, algorithmic investing is raising the average level of financial literacy. Users are starting to understand why an AI system recommends a particular asset class, how to interpret risk signals, and how to balance exposure. But, as experts note, this learning curve comes with new challenges.
Risk Factors and the Road to 2030
Despite clear benefits, AI adoption in finance is not risk-free.
“Experiments show that neural networks still lack human qualities such as empathy and psychological understanding of the market,” said Dmitry Tselishchev, Managing Director at Rikom-Trust. “AI can be a powerful assistant, but it is not yet a full replacement.”
Even so, the outlook remains bullish. In October, Russia’s largest bank Sber announced an upgraded AI agent for retail investors. The system helps users optimize their portfolios, explains tax treatment of dividends and coupons, and models different investment strategies in real time.
By 2030, AI is expected to become a standard layer of retail investing — the same way e-trading is standard today. Russia is moving toward a mature, data-driven financial culture where access to capital, tools, and knowledge is equalized across demographics — from students to retirees.
