Three experts on whether AI will save Russia from a labor shortage

Elvira Nabiullina recently stated there is an unprecedented labor shortage in modern Russia. This raises an acute question: can AI become a solution and strengthen the economy?

The Problem Is Acute and Real

Labor shortage is a practical problem for Russian business, not a theoretical scenario. Companies cannot find the specialists they need, wages are rising, productivity is falling. Replacing people with artificial intelligence sounds like a logical way out: neural networks can perform employee functions, which theoretically increases the number of available "workers." However, reality is more complex. Three experts—Arthur Zubanov from IAS Digital, Yevgeny Lyubko from the Praniki platform, and Ekaterina Agaeva from GdeRabota.ru—were asked whether such a replacement will occur and how it will affect the economy and people.

AI Will Fill Only Part of the Gap

Experts agree: AI can solve some tasks, but not all. Neural networks are good at:

• Routine analytics and data processing
• Supporting development and code review
• Creating initial versions of texts and content
• Performing computational and classification tasks
• Automating administrative work

But even in these areas, humans remain necessary for making strategic decisions, managing people, negotiations, and creativity. AI is an amplifier, not a replacement.

What Will Happen to People

Discussion among the experts revealed two main trajectories. First—people retrain and move to creative work, scientific research, and their own business. Second—there will be temporary unemployment while the economy restructures. The reality will likely be mixed. In some sectors (customer support), AI will displace people quickly. In others (management, strategy, art), demand for humans will remain high. The key factor is the speed of retraining and people's willingness to change.

An economy with AI can be healthier if the state supports people's

transition to new professions.

What This Means

Will the economy strengthen? Probably yes—provided that AI implementation occurs in parallel with investments in education and retraining. Simply replacing people with neural networks and changing nothing else is a path to social upheaval and untapped AI potential. Labor shortage and mass AI deployment are both a threat and an opportunity. How exactly Russia will realize this opportunity will be seen in the next 5–10 years.