Uzbekistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence in Central Asia: Applications and Regulation

The debate on the need for worldwide regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining momentum, given that over the past year AI has become a key tool for millions of people. With a growing number of organizations applying AI in various fields, including medicine, politics and judicial decisions, the urgent question is how to integrate AI into legislation. In Central Asia, in 2020 the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan authorized remote identification of individuals at banks using AI, machine learning and other predictive algorithms to process customer biometric data. Bishkek also introduced a facial recognition system based on artificial intelligence which allows data about wanted persons to be entered, and cameras to automatically identify them and transmit information to law enforcement. Artificial intelligence has also found its application in the political process. In 2020, the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan Party used a digital bot farm during the elections which generated approximately 150 profiles a day, automatically wrote comments and then self-liquidated. In Tajikistan, where the use of AI is not widespread, MegaFon stands out for its introduction of the Dono chatbot in 2019. This artificial interlocutor interacts with around 14,000 subscribers per day, freeing humans from routine tasks and allowing them to deal with more complex issues. In Uzbekistan, meanwhile, the government is taking active measures to stimulate the development of AI technologies. A presidential decree has established comprehensive steps towards the digitization of the economy and the social sphere. Digitization of government data in various sectors, such as justice, communications, finance, education and healthcare are becoming an integral part of the development strategy. The application of AI technologies, starting with image recognition and navigation systems, has already become a tangible part of task-solving in large enterprises, and the country is actively working to create an enabling environment to further expand the use of AI. In Kazakhstan, AI is being actively introduced in the judicial system, and over the past two years AI systems have been used to analyze court cases and predict their outcomes. The authorities believe that this approach helps minimize errors and improves the quality of justice. In the field of healthcare, since 2022 Kazakhstan has been successfully operating the PneumoNet program based on artificial intelligence. This program makes it possible to detect 17 of the most pathogenic lung diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and cancer. Currently, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan do not have specific laws regulating the creation and use of AI. Despite this, the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Tajikistan until 2040 notes that during the implementation of the first and second stages of said strategy, legal, institutional and infrastructural frameworks will be developed, and the necessary specialists will be trained. Unlike its neighbors, Uzbekistan adopted a presidential decree "On measures to create conditions for the accelerated introduction of artificial intelligence technologies" as early as 2021. This document has become the legal foundation for the further development of AI in the country, defining its main directions. The resolution emphasizes the need to develop...

Women in Uzbekistan May Now Drive Buses and Heavy Trucks

Labor code regulations in place in Uzbekistan since 2018 that prohibited women from driving vehicles with a capacity of 2.5 tons or more, and buses with a capacity of more than 14 people, have been abolished by new rules which came into force on February 12, 2024. According to the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, these changes were adopted to ensure gender equality in transportation and to attract women to jobs driving conventional buses and electric buses. Uzbekistan is pursuing a policy of providing equal rights and opportunities for women in society and the economy. Consequently, since May 2019, a ban on women working in certain industries was lifted, though restrictions have been retained in fields such as oil and gas extraction, ferrous metallurgy, mining, construction, and installation work. The government is also trying to create favorable conditions for women in the workplace. For example, since September 2022, women employed in the private sector have been paid maternity benefits by the state. Currently, women working for private companies receive a stipend of $160 for four months.

Uzbek Film “Dreamers” Wins Award at Cannes World Film Festival

A documentary film entitled "Dreamers", released by BWG Production in Uzbekistan, has won the award for "Best Historical Film of December" at the World Film Festival in Cannes, France. This win opens the door for the movie to compete for the festival's prized "Film of the Year" title. Ruslan Saliev, the film's director, hailed the success as extraordinary for Uzbek film. He was confident that Dreamers, which explores the nation's historical suffering, would strike a chord with viewers around the world. Saliev emphasized the value of these festivals in showcasing the nation’s cultural legacy abroad. He also hoped for the chance to represent Uzbekistan at more international film festivals. "The use of reconstructions and art installations as a modern artistic interpretation in the documentary film Dreamers [should] be considered a positive experience," explained Uzbek film critic Mohinur Ahmetjonova. "Of course, this approach doesn't always fully reveal the [true] reality, but it gives an effective result in creating a general representation. But when it comes to covering the historical truth, it is noticeable that there is an attempt to avoid the bloody past and to present the atrocities that happened in a [softer light]. It's no coincidence that the approach of trying to describe the achievements of the period has caused several objections by historians and film experts." "The fact that the filmmakers tried to combine large-scale events in one film gives the impression that they were a little distracted from the original goal... in general, in this period when new views on history are being formed, it's natural that there are different opposing opinions about the film," Ahmetjonova added. Dreamers won the prize over the English film The Shamrock Spitfire, which tells the story of an Irish military pilot during WWII.

Central Asia’s Only Intercity Trolleybus System: Where Does It Run And How Does It Work?

The only intercity trolleybus route in all of Central Asia, the Urgench - Khiva - Urgench route (about 32km one-way), has been popular with commuters and local residents for 26 years. According to the Uzbek Statistics Agency, demand for the only trolleybus route between the two cities in Khorezm has only increased in recent years. According to the drivers, tourists are all found the passengers, with an average of two to four on each trip. "Foreign guests like our green trolleybuses very much. They not only photograph [posing with] it in the background, but also film both inside the cabin and video along the way. Sometimes we are asked to pose in front of the camera lenses. We are also pleased that all the passengers are happy," said Oybek Sobirov, one of the drivers. The route is also popular with Urgench State University students. They account for a significant share of regular passengers. "The rector of Urgench State University shared with us that the university's dormitories are not used by students from Khiva, as they travel to study from one city to another by trolleybus. They know that they have regular, safe and fast transportation almost [all the way] to their place of study," said Ruslan Ruzmetov, head of the Road and River Transport Development Department at the Uzbek Ministry of Transport. The infrastructure itself was built in 1997 and commissioned in 1998 to coincide with Khiva's 2,500th anniversary. The total length of the line is almost 36km one-way. The main part of the route is practically in a straight line, and the average trip along it takes 60-70 minutes. At present, the fare is standard for Uzbekistan -- 2,000 soums ($0.16) -- but traveling on it outside the city is converted into a suburban fare -- 4,000 soums ($0.32). On average, 1,700 to 2,000 people travel the route per day, which translates into about 700,000 passengers per year. On average, eight trolleybuses depart daily, one remains in reserve, and five are currently non-operational. In total, there are 14 trolleybuses on the department's balance sheet, with the oldest of them more than 25 years old. The line works from early morning until 19:00. Every day, according to the schedule, four trolleybuses depart from the two cities alternately, meaning four vehicles stay overnight in Khiva and Urgench every day.

Female Entrepreneurs

Platform Supporting Female Entrepreneurs Launches In Uzbekistan

An online platform called Coozin has been introduced in Uzbekistan, with the goal of championing female entrepreneurs. Women can use Coozin to learn the fundamentals of business, sell their goods and services, network with other entrepreneurs, and find inspiration. The platform will also help Uzbekistan to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals. The Coozin initiative is the first in Uzbekistan to enable women to independently promote their businesses. It was coordinated with the help of the OSCE, IT-Park, and the Business Women's Association of Uzbekistan, as well as the the Coca-Cola Foundation.

€10bn To Be Invested In Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

The two-day Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity opened on January 29th in Brussels, Belgium. The event brings together high-level representatives from the European Commission, countries of the EU, Central Asia and Caucasus, as well as Turkey. At the forum, the European Commission’s executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis announced that European and international financial institutions will commit €10bn ($10.8bn) in support and investments towards sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. The forum’s agenda includes discussions of the required investments to transform the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor into a cutting-edge, multimodal, and efficient route, connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days. The European Commission said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has underlined the urgency to find alternative reliable efficient trade routes between Europe and Asia. The development of transport connectivity is also a means to strengthen regional integration and economic development in Central Asia. The €10bn commitment is a mixture of ongoing and planned investments which the European Commission foresees to be mobilized for sustainable transport development in Central Asia in the short term. In concrete terms, several significant commitments are being made on the first day of the forum as part of the overall €10bn. The European Investment Bank (EIB), represented by its vice-president Teresa Czerwińska, signed memoranda of understanding totaling €1.47bn ($1.6bn) with the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan. These loans will be made possible by guarantees provided by the European Commission.