Artificial intelligence - The Times Of Central Asia

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Turkmenistan Explores Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Turkmenistan has taken a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its education system by hosting a scientific and practical conference. Organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the event marked progress in implementing the goals outlined in the “Roadmap of Cooperation for 2024-2025.” Key Discussions The conference explored critical aspects of applying AI in education. Topics included the development of education management information systems, improving teachers’ digital literacy, and adapting cutting-edge technologies to Turkmenistan’s specific conditions. Participants also presented a draft strategy for the development of AI in education and highlighted international platforms already in use in this field. Special emphasis was placed on the competencies required for both teachers and students to effectively work with AI. Experts noted that fostering such skills is essential in an increasingly digitalized society and workplace. They stressed that equipping young people with AI-related knowledge could significantly enhance their future professional prospects. Practical Implementation and Examples Turkmenistan is already incorporating AI into educational initiatives. A notable example was presented on October 4 in Ashgabat, where Selin Ataeva, a 12th-grade student at the Swiss School of Dubai and leader of a startup development team, showcased an AI-driven math learning platform. This innovative software adopts a personalized approach to education, catering particularly to students in rural and remote regions. By optimizing the learning process and improving access to quality education, the platform exemplifies the transformative potential of AI in bridging educational gaps. As Turkmenistan advances toward integrating AI into its education system, the conference highlighted the importance of aligning technology with local needs and preparing students and teachers for a digitally driven future. With initiatives like Ataeva’s math learning platform, the country demonstrates a commitment to using AI to enhance education accessibility and efficiency.

AI Science Language Teaching Artificial intelligence Digital Technologies Education

AI in Central Asia: Kazakhstan Unveils Multilingual GPT Model

Researchers at the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University in Astana have introduced ISSAI KAZ-LLM, a large language model (LLM) specifically designed for the Kazakh language. Built on advanced neural network technology, the model serves as the foundation for Kazakhstan’s version of a generative AI system similar to GPT. ISSAI KAZ-LLM is tailored to Kazakhstan’s multilingual and multicultural environment, supporting Kazakh, Russian, and English, with additional functionality for Turkish. The model addresses language barriers and advances the field of generative artificial intelligence for resource-limited languages. The development team processed and synthesized over 150 billion tokens to ensure high-performance language capabilities. Beyond creating an AI tool, the project also fostered local expertise, involving Kazakhstani researchers at every stage, from data preparation to model implementation. Collaboration with international institutes enabled the creation of language-specific datasets and comparative analysis tools, utilizing input from linguists and state-of-the-art machine translation techniques. KAZ-LLM has a wide range of applications, including Kazakh language translations, content generation, and bulk text processing. Training data was sourced exclusively from publicly available materials, such as Kazakh websites, news articles, and online libraries, supplemented by contributions from various organizations. ISSAI director, Prof. Hussain Atakan Varol, told The Times of Central Asia: “This model reflects Kazakhstan's commitment to innovation, self-reliance, and the growth of its technology ecosystem. Our team developed two versions of ISSAI KAZ-LLM: one with 8 billion parameters and another with 70 billion parameters. Both are built on the Meta Llama architecture, optimized for use on high-performance systems as well as resource-constrained environments. Released under a CC-BY-NC license, the models are available for non-commercial use on the Hugging Face platform.” The ISSAI team is already exploring next-generation AI systems, including language-vision models, while expanding support for additional Turkic and regional languages. These initiatives aim to strengthen regional ties, promote linguistic integration, and create substantial economic and technological opportunities in Kazakhstan and beyond. Remarkably, this groundbreaking development was accomplished without government funding, with significant contributions from Kazakhstani IT companies. Kazakhstan is also gearing up to launch the International Center for Artificial Intelligence alem.ai. The center is set to become a hub for transforming the country into an AI-driven economy, fostering innovation, attracting investments, and supporting startups. By 2029, the export of Kazakhstani AI solutions is expected to reach $5 billion.

Digital Technologies University Artificial intelligence Science Education

Redefining Work and Innovation: The Impact of AI and Its Rise in Kazakhstan

Will artificial intelligence be able to replace humans? What professions will disappear in the future, and will mankind face an “aggressive” neural network? Aigerim Abdenbayeva, head of educational programs at the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University (NU), answers these questions and discusses how AI is developing in Kazakhstan. TCA: Most people have heard the term “artificial intelligence” in one way or another, but only a small proportion know about the practical possibilities of AI. In your view, what is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence can be characterized as the ability of machines to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. This includes recognizing images, understanding language, making decisions, and solving complex problems. In everyday life, we encounter AI in many different forms, from voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant to recommendations on streaming platforms like Netflix, which suggests movies based on your preferences. The term “artificial intelligence” was coined in 1956 by American scientist John McCarthy, who is considered one of the field's founders. Although the concept of AI was proposed more than half a century ago, its modern form only began to develop in the 1980s, when so-called expert systems emerged. These systems used rules and knowledge bases to solve specific problems, such as disease diagnosis or financial forecasting. Since then, AI has gone through several stages of development. The 2010s saw a significant breakthrough with the emergence of deep learning and big data technologies. Based on neural networks, deep learning has allowed computers to process and analyze vast amounts of information, dramatically improving their ability to recognize patterns and understand speech. This progress has made AI more accessible to a broader audience and has become an integral part of our daily lives. Several trends in the field of artificial intelligence can be distinguished: "Narrow AI" is a specialized system for specific tasks. For example, algorithms are used to recognize faces or diagnose diseases. They outperform humans in a narrow domain, but cannot perform functions outside their specialization. “General AI” involves creating machines that can perform any intellectual task at a level comparable to humans. General AI remains a theoretical concept and has not been achieved in reality. "Generative AI" is a field that deals with creating new data based on existing data. Examples include generating text, images, and music. Algorithms such as GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) can create text that looks like a human wrote it, and they are already being used extensively in various applications. Generative AI, in particular, has become popular due to its ability to make human life more manageable. For example, platforms like ChatGPT can help with writing articles, creating content for social media, and automating routine tasks, saving users a lot of time and effort. Other AI applications have already become part of our daily lives. For example, in medicine, AI is used to analyze medical images, which helps doctors in diagnosis and treatment selection. In finance, AI helps analyze market data and predict trends, allowing investors...

Security Digitalization Digital Technologies Artificial intelligence Public Security Digitization

AI Facial Recognition System Being Tested in Two Cities in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has launched a national video monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence technologies. The project, developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security Committee, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, aims to enhance surveillance capabilities across key locations in the country. The system is designed to recognize faces, detect abandoned objects, capture offenses, and identify vehicles by make, model, and color. Critical sites such as railway stations, airports, hotels, streets, intersections, and shopping malls are priority areas for implementation. During the World Nomad Games in Astana, the technology was reportedly instrumental in locating lost children and missing persons. Authorities also noted that the system helped detain 46 wanted individuals in Astana and 30 in Almaty. Proponents argue that these technologies could contribute to improving public safety and reducing crime. Kazakhstan’s initiative follows a broader global trend of integrating AI into “smart city” systems, similar to developments in China, Russia, and some European countries. Officials say the system will be expanded with additional cameras nationwide to increase monitoring coverage. To date, more than 1.3 million video cameras have been installed in Kazakhstan, with 310,000 of them connected to operational control centers and police duty stations. Advocates of the system highlight its potential to deter crime and bolster public security, although concerns about privacy and misuse of surveillance technology have been raised internationally. Worldwide, AI video surveillance systems are being adopted to improve law enforcement and public safety. In China, they are used for facial recognition to track criminals and prevent offenses. Russia has integrated AI into its video systems to detect potential threats, while in the UK, intelligent cameras are used for crowd management and event security. While supporters emphasize the benefits of such systems in enabling faster responses to incidents and reducing crime, the deployment of AI in surveillance has sparked ongoing debates over privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for misuse.

Government Digitalization Digital Technologies Artificial intelligence taxes

Kyrgyzstan’s High Technology Park Confirms Indefinite Preferential Tax Regime

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov has signed amendments to the Law "On the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic," extending the Park’s preferential tax regime indefinitely. Established in 2011, the High Technology Park was designed to foster IT businesses by drastically reducing or eliminating tax burdens for companies exporting digital goods and services. Previously, the High Technology Park offered tax exemptions for export-oriented IT companies for a 15-year period, set to expire in 2026. Under the new amendments, this regime is now permanent. Currently, resident companies of the Park benefit from exemptions on sales tax, profit tax, and value-added tax (VAT). Employees of these companies enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 5%, while the social insurance tax is 12% of their average monthly wage. The amendments also grant the Park's supervisory board the authority to independently elect its chairperson, a change expected to enhance the Board's efficiency. This move significantly boosts the Park's appeal to both domestic and international IT businesses. Kyrgyzstan’s IT sector is among the country’s fastest-growing industries. In 2021, Kyrgyzstan established the Ministry of Digital Development, tasked with advancing e-government initiatives and expanding the range of government services available online.

Science Digitalization Digital Technologies statistics Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in AI Readiness

According to IMF data analyzed by Ranking.kz, Kazakhstan ranks as the leading Central Asian country in global artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, while Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are at the bottom of the regional standings. The AI readiness index, which covers 174 countries, evaluates factors such as digital infrastructure, human capital, technological innovation, and legal regulation. It draws on data from the World Bank, the International Labor Organization, and other sources. Kazakhstan ranks within the top 50 countries for AI readiness, holding 48th place with an index score of 0.55, just behind Russia, which ranks 47th. McKinsey & Company has noted Kazakhstan’s use of AI to enhance public services, particularly through geographic information systems and spatial data. For instance, Kazakhstan has employed a statistical model that integrates geographic, demographic, and economic data to assess infrastructure needs across 6,293 villages, identifying 3,500 villages with the highest potential to cover 90% of the rural population. This approach enables the government to deliver essential services and infrastructure more effectively to rural areas. Following Kazakhstan in 48th place, with a noticeable gap, is Kyrgyzstan (99th with 0.43). Tajikistan ranks 123rd with an index of 0.37, and neighboring Uzbekistan is in 131st place with an index of 0.35, placing it last among Central Asian and EAEU countries. Turkmenistan was not included in the IMF index.