Yandex Search Türkiye has expanded its user base by over 75% in 2025, driven by AI-powered features tailored to the local market. CEO Alexander Popovskiy confirmed the growth during his remarks at the 8th Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Summit in Istanbul.
He credited the rise to strong adoption of “Yazeka with Yandex Search,” a service launched in late 2024 that now handles more than 40% of all search queries on the platform.
AI Tools Gain Ground With Turkish Users
Popovskiy pointed to the growing popularity of AI chatbots and smart search tools among Turkish users, especially the younger generation. People are increasingly turning to AI for daily needs, including general research, personal guidance and even medical advice.
Yazeka’s user base has doubled since the beginning of 2025, highlighting strong interest in more conversational, adaptive AI systems.
Focused Localization Drives Adoption
Yandex’s success in Türkiye is largely due to its localized approach. Popovskiy emphasized that adapting tools to the Turkish language and cultural preferences has been key to their rapid growth.
Looking ahead to 2026, Yandex plans to release a new application built specifically for Türkiye. Popovskiy described it as a step toward a “next-generation internet” experience that will reshape how users interact with online services.
Building Toward Agentic AI Experiences
Yandex is also pushing forward with “agentic AI” — systems that act autonomously to complete tasks rather than just assist users. One example already live is their shopping comparison tool, which helps Turkish users find better deals across online stores.
Popovskiy believes this type of AI will become more common in Türkiye over the next few years, marking a major change in how people use digital platforms.
With a combination of local focus and next-gen AI tools, Yandex Search Türkiye is positioning itself for continued growth in an increasingly competitive market.
