AI - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 104

Kazakhstan-U.S. Relations

Tokayev and U.S. DFC Chief Discuss Critical Minerals, AI, and Possible Kazakhstan Office

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met on June 15 with Ben Black, chief executive officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), as Astana seeks to expand economic cooperation with Washington and attract more strategic investment. The DFC, the U.S. government's international investment arm, mobilizes private capital in support of foreign-policy and economic-development priorities. A permanent DFC presence in Kazakhstan would give U.S. investors and Kazakh authorities a more direct channel for structuring and financing projects in priority sectors. Welcoming Black, Tokayev described the visit as a continuation of agreements reached during talks in Washington in November 2025, and an important step toward deepening Kazakhstan's multifaceted partnership with the United States. Tokayev said relations between Astana and Washington had intensified since President Donald Trump returned to office. "We fully support the bold vision and pragmatic diplomatic approach of the U.S. President. Kazakhstan plays an active role in advancing key American initiatives, including the Abraham Accords, the Board of Peace, the TRIPP initiative, and other projects. Together, these efforts have given new momentum to our enhanced strategic partnership, which is stronger today than ever before," Tokayev said. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) has become important to Kazakhstan's transport agenda because a southern Caucasus route could broaden options for the Middle Corridor rather than replace existing Azerbaijan-Georgia links. Tokayev added that Kazakhstan's political and economic reforms are aimed at shifting the country from a resource-dependent model to a diversified, knowledge-based economy, and noted that the DFC's investment priorities align closely with Kazakhstan's development agenda. Black thanked Tokayev for the reception and described his meetings with Kazakhstan's business community in Almaty as productive and substantive. Tokayev emphasized the importance of translating political agreements into practical results and reaffirmed Kazakhstan's readiness to implement joint investment projects. The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in critical minerals, transport connectivity, agriculture, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. They also reviewed the possibility of opening a permanent DFC office in Kazakhstan. The meeting followed several days of U.S.-Kazakhstan critical minerals diplomacy in Astana. The Times of Central Asia reported that the United States convened a C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue on June 10, where U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor said Washington saw Central Asia as a partner in diversifying access to strategic materials and highlighted the DFC's potential role in critical minerals, telecommunications, and Trans-Caspian infrastructure. David Fogel, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, told delegates at the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress on June 11-12 that Washington was moving "from dialogue to strategic execution" in the region's critical minerals industry. Fogel noted that the United States had brought an unusually large delegation to Kazakhstan, including representatives of more than 20 U.S. companies and senior officials, underscoring growing American interest in the country's mining, metallurgy, and industrial sectors. Those discussions fit Kazakhstan's attempt to move beyond extraction. Astana is seeking to position its mining sector around processing, technology transfer, and higher-value manufacturing, while linking critical minerals to...

AIRUN CEO Chingiz Arziev on Building Kyrgyzstan’s Sovereign AI

The Times of Central Asia was delighted to interview Chingiz Arziev, CEO of AIRUN a Kyrgyzstan-based company developing AI infrastructure for the Kyrgyz language. AIRUN’s technology includes a large language model, speech recognition, text-to-speech tools, AI translation, and digital avatars designed for use in government, education, media, business, and public services. Chingiz Arziev spoke to TCA about the challenge of building AI for a low-resource language, why digital sovereignty matters for Kyrgyzstan, and how the company hopes to take its experience to other countries facing similar language and technology challenges. TCA: To begin with, can you tell us a little about yourself: where you grew up, what you studied, and how you first became interested in technology? Chingiz Arziev: I was born and raised in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. My interest in technology started very early. Around the age of nine, I discovered design software: Photoshop, Illustrator, and CorelDRAW. I was not only learning how to use them, but also comparing their interfaces and trying to understand what made one product more intuitive than another. At around 14, I became interested in motion design, 3D graphics, and digital sculpting. I studied Adobe After Effects, Blender, and ZBrush. Whatever software I was learning, I was always interested in the same thing: user experience. Already by the age of 16, I had started learning HTML and CSS to begin building websites and landing pages. Looking back, the common thread has always been understanding how technology works and how it can solve real problems for people. TCA: Was there a particular moment when you realized that artificial intelligence could become a serious field for you personally? Chingiz Arziev: I have always been drawn to advanced engineering and emerging technologies. In 2015, I became deeply involved in the blockchain space. The architectures, protocols, and decentralized systems being developed at the time felt completely new and inspiring. But even that did not compare to what happened during the AI boom of 2022. I still remember the day I sent my first prompt to ChatGPT. For me, that was the moment everything changed. I immediately saw the direction technology would take over the next 20 years. After that, I spoke about artificial intelligence everywhere. I talked about how AI would transform industries, reshape professions, automate routine work, and fundamentally change the labor market. Many friends and colleagues thought I was exaggerating. But I had spent years following companies such as Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Unitree, and DJI. Because of that, I saw a broader picture. Artificial intelligence would not develop in isolation. It would advance alongside robotics, autonomous systems, and automation. After sending that first prompt to ChatGPT, I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to artificial intelligence. TCA: How did the idea for AIRUN first come about, and what problem were you trying to solve? Chingiz Arziev: For countries with low-resource languages, the need for sovereign AI has existed for a long time. The challenge was never the idea itself. The challenge was execution, expertise, infrastructure, and...

Digital Transformation

Interview: Kazakhstan Turns to AI and Digital Platforms to Speed Eurasian Transit

Kazakhstan is moving more of its transit system online as it tries to reduce border delays, track freight earlier, and strengthen its position on routes linking China, Central Asia, the Caspian, and Europe. Officials and industry participants say such tools could shorten processing times and reduce delays across transport corridors. These and other issues were discussed during a thematic session on “Digital Solutions in Transport and Logistics” at the Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum in Astana in late May. Kazakhstan’s practical experience in digitizing transport and logistics was presented by Deputy Minister of Transport Damir Kozhakhmetov, who also spoke with The Times of Central Asia about the country’s key priorities in transforming the sector. Key Areas of Transformation Situated at the crossroads of major international transport corridors, Kazakhstan is prioritizing seamless logistics, electronic document management, and intelligent monitoring systems. According to Kozhakhmetov, the goal is to simplify transit procedures and accelerate cargo processing through the introduction of unified electronic standards and integration with international platforms. “We connect major transit routes and serve as a link providing services along alternative transport corridors,” Kozhakhmetov told The Times of Central Asia. “Our current priority is to ensure that countries across the region continue working together to simplify electronic document exchange and harmonize digital procedures.” Practical Cases and Measurable Results One of Kazakhstan’s most successful initiatives has been the integration of its railway freight systems with major Chinese logistics platforms serving the Middle Corridor. “This allows us to see the composition of cargo shipments three to five days before they arrive at the border and complete transit declarations in advance,” Kozhakhmetov said. “As a result, processing times at key railway stations have been reduced to as little as 30 minutes. Similar integration has already been implemented with the electronic railway platforms of Azerbaijan and Georgia.” He noted that similar projects are being introduced across other transport sectors, including the electronic exchanges of international transport permits, paperless processing of cargo documentation, and the implementation of e-Freight systems for air cargo operations. Kazakhstan is also participating in the development of the Digital Trade Corridor, a global multimodal platform designed to simplify, automate, and accelerate transit and logistics operations. Other initiatives include the introduction of the electronic international consignment note, e-CMR, and the Smart Cargo single-window logistics platform, which integrates customs and logistics services. “We pay close attention to the development of digital infrastructure in every mode of transport,” Kozhakhmetov said. “These efforts cover four main areas: roads, road transport, aviation, and railways.” Digital Roads and AI Monitoring In the road sector, Kazakhstan is developing the e-Joldar system, a unified platform designed to monitor the lifecycle of the country’s road network. The system combines road inventories, technical assessments, laboratory testing, and lifecycle management tools, enabling more effective allocation of infrastructure funding. “We can now see when a road was repaired, when the next maintenance cycle is scheduled, and when future rehabilitation work should be carried out,” Kozhakhmetov explained. According to the Ministry of Transport, Kazakhstan’s public road network...

Brain Institute

Kazakhstan Opens Central Asia’s First Brain Research Institute

Kazakhstan has opened Central Asia’s first specialized Brain Institute, a new research and education center focused on neuroscience, brain health, and artificial intelligence-assisted medical research, officials said. The institute was launched at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty and is the first facility of its kind in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region. The center builds on KazNU’s Cognitive Neuroscience Center, established in 2018, and is intended to expand research into brain development, neurological disorders, cognition, and multilingualism, while training a new generation of neuroscience specialists. Research at the institute will use advanced equipment, including a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner, high-density electroencephalography systems, functional near-infrared spectroscopy technology, and AI and big data analytics tools. Led by Professor Almira Kustubayeva, the institute brings together laboratories specializing in cognitive, behavioral, and computational neuroscience, as well as neurolinguistics. Its research areas will include brain development, neurodegenerative diseases, decision-making, emotional regulation, and the neurological aspects of multilingualism. Scientists at the institute also plan to develop new diagnostic and predictive biomarkers that could improve the detection and treatment of neurological and cognitive disorders. The opening coincided with the 80th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and is part of the government’s push to develop the country’s scientific and technological capacity. Speaking at the launch ceremony, KazNU rector Zhanseit Tuimebayev said the development of science and innovation had been identified as a national priority by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. NAS president Akylbek Kurishbayev described the project as an example of cooperation between academic and scientific institutions aimed at developing Kazakhstan’s research base. Kazakhstan has increased investment in scientific research and medical innovation in recent years. Earlier this year, researchers at the Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry announced work on an antioxidant dietary supplement intended to help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Last year, surgeons from Kazakhstan carried out Uzbekistan’s first robot-assisted joint replacement procedures using the MAKO robotic surgical platform. President Tokayev has also announced plans to establish two science cities in Almaty and Kurchatov as part of efforts to develop nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, and advanced scientific research.

Uzbekistan AI adoption Trails Global Average, Microsoft Report Finds

Only 7.2% of people aged 15 to 64 in Uzbekistan used generative artificial intelligence tools during the first quarter of 2026, according to Microsoft’s latest Global AI Diffusion Report. The figure places Uzbekistan below the global average, as the share of generative AI users worldwide rose from 16.3% in the second half of 2025 to 17.8% in the first quarter of 2026. It also highlights a persistent gap in Central Asia between governments’ digital ambitions and current levels of public uptake. Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan recorded the region’s highest adoption rate at 15.9%, followed by Kyrgyzstan at 9.5%. Uzbekistan ranked third, ahead of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, both at 6.1%. However, the report also showed that Uzbekistan is not standing still. Its AI user share rose from 5.7% in the first half of 2025 to 7.2% in the first quarter of 2026, while Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were all listed among the fastest-growing economies for AI adoption since June 2025. The report identified the United Arab Emirates as the global leader in generative AI usage, with 70.1% of the working-age population using such technologies. Singapore ranked second at 63.4%, while Norway, Ireland and France also placed among the top five. Microsoft researchers said the global spread of AI technologies remains uneven because of differences in internet access, electricity reliability, digital infrastructure and levels of digital literacy. For Uzbekistan, the findings point to a familiar problem: public adoption is still catching up with the country’s digital ambitions. At the GSMA M360 Eurasia summit in Samarkand in May, Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov said Uzbekistan was promoting mass education among young people through the “5 Million AI Leaders” program, while GSMA data projected that more than 40% of mobile connections in Uzbekistan could use 5G by 2030. The comparison with Kazakhstan remains instructive. TCA has previously reported that Kazakhstan is already testing AI-linked systems in state administration, including the KEDEN customs platform, which has cut declaration processing times to under one minute, and Smart Cargo, a planned single digital window for logistics services. Microsoft’s figures suggest that Kazakhstan’s more advanced public uptake is beginning to match its state-backed digital push, while Uzbekistan is still building the skills and infrastructure needed to broaden AI use.

Kazakhstan AI Development Takes Center Stage at EAEU Forum

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has urged Eurasian Economic Union member states to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence across trade, logistics, industry, and agriculture, as Astana seeks to turn Kazakhstan AI development into a wider regional agenda. Speaking on May 28 at the plenary session of the Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum in Astana, titled “The EAEU in the Global Digital Race: Betting on Artificial Intelligence,” Tokayev said digital transformation would be a decisive factor in the bloc’s global competitiveness. The EAEU is a Russia-led bloc of countries which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. “It is critically important to intensify the adoption of new technologies, primarily artificial intelligence, in trade and logistics,” Tokayev said. According to the Kazakh president, integrating national digital systems would allow member states to speed up customs procedures, process documents in real time, forecast cargo flows, and identify logistical bottlenecks. Tokayev also called for the mutual recognition of digital signatures across the EAEU, arguing that such a step could significantly reduce business costs and increase trade volumes within the bloc. He said the analytical capabilities of artificial intelligence could play a major role in strengthening industrial cooperation within the union, modernizing agriculture, and improving regional food security. “The comprehensive application of new technologies will become the most important factor in ensuring dynamic economic growth for EAEU member states,” Tokayev said. At the same time, the president warned that AI development should not deepen the “digital divide” between countries within the union. During the forum, EAEU leaders were expected to adopt a joint declaration on the responsible development of artificial intelligence, an initiative first proposed by Kazakhstan in December 2025. The document is intended to establish common approaches to economic digitalization and the safe deployment of AI technologies while taking into account the interests of all member states. Tokayev said the current transformation of the global economy creates a “unique window of opportunity” for EAEU countries. Citing international estimates, he noted that artificial intelligence could add approximately $7 trillion to global GDP over the next decade. “The key question is whether we will be able to use digital technologies as an effective instrument for accelerated economic and social development,” Tokayev said. Kazakhstan has increasingly promoted initiatives related to AI regulation and development in recent years, seeking to position itself as Central Asia’s leading AI hub. That said, its progress so far has been strongest in state-led digitalization rather than in globally competitive private-sector AI development. In the 2025 Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index, Kazakhstan ranked 60th out of 195 countries, up from 76th the previous year, making it the highest-ranked country in Central Asia. The government has declared 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, created a dedicated AI ministry, established an AI Development Council, and promoted the development of national computing infrastructure, including NVIDIA-based supercomputers and expanded data-center capacity. Authorities have also backed Alem.ai, an international AI center in Astana that includes education programs, startup support, research labs, and a planned AI research...