The role of artificial intelligence in the modern Russian economy innovative development

Innovation is now not just one of the possible paths of development, but the main condition for the survival of any enterprise. The key factor that changes the paradigm of the innovation process is the ability to delegate routine operations. Previously, a significant portion of highly qualified employees’ time was spent on data collection and preliminary information processing, which considerably slowed down the research and development cycle. Modern technologies make it possible to completely delegate trivial tasks to intelligent systems, which are capable of processing such information much faster than a human. In today’s environment, the integration of autonomous intelligent systems is crucial for reducing operational costs. In 2026, artificial intelligence has transformed from an auxiliary technology into an indispensable tool for ensuring the competitiveness of knowledge intensive enterprises. The main areas of application of artificial intelligence have been analyzed, including the automation of business processes, generative design, and predictive analytics of production equipment. The main barriers that limit the implementation of automation systems based on artificial intelligence have been systematized and identified. It has been established that artificial intelligence has changed the methodology of research and development work, reducing the product development cycle from several months to several weeks. The conclusion is formulated that the integration of artificial intelligence tools into production processes reduces costs, the percentage of defective products, and requires staff to develop creative and strategic competencies. The role of artificial intelligence is defined not merely as an automation tool, but as an active participant in the innovation process, capable of creating innovative solutions. An author’s classification of barriers to the implementation of artificial intelligence in knowledge intensive industries has been developed.