Astana Hosts Global AI Olympiad for School Students

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, is hosting the III International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) from 2 to 8 August, bringing together more than 500 school students from 106 countries.

The competition is one of the world's largest international events for school students in artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics.

Participants are demonstrating their knowledge and practical skills in developing artificial intelligence models, solving complex engineering challenges and programming autonomous robotic systems.

Kazakhstan Strengthens Its Digital Leadership

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the opening ceremony, saying that hosting a world-class competition reflects the country's commitment to building a digital economy and advancing high technologies.

According to the president, Kazakhstan is consistently implementing its digital transformation strategy by developing a modern innovation ecosystem in which artificial intelligence plays a key role in public administration, economic development and business.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan ranks 24th among 193 countries in the United Nations E-Government Development Index and is the leader in Central Asia in readiness to adopt advanced digital technologies.

He also highlighted the country's focus on developing human capital, noting that Kazakhstan's team won three gold, one silver and three bronze medals at last year's International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence in Beijing.

"Knowledge has always united people and driven humanity forward. Perhaps it is here that ideas and projects capable of changing the world for the better are being born," Tokayev said.

A New Generation of Olympiad

The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence is a relatively new but already well-established global educational initiative that brings together talented school students, researchers, educators and leading AI experts.

Unlike traditional programming competitions, the IOAI focuses on solving practical problems that closely reflect the real challenges of the modern digital economy.

Participants work with machine learning algorithms, computer vision, data analysis and neural networks, develop intelligent models and program autonomous robots.

The competition is designed to assess not only theoretical knowledge but also the ability to apply it in developing innovative technological solutions.

Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of the Global Economy

The event reflects the growing global importance of artificial intelligence as one of the defining technologies of the 21st century.

AI-based solutions are increasingly being adopted in industry, healthcare, education, finance, transport, agriculture, environmental protection and public administration.

According to international analysts, artificial intelligence technologies are expected to account for a significant share of the global economy in the coming years, while demand for AI specialists is set to continue growing rapidly.

As a result, many countries are investing in developing young people's digital skills, expanding educational programmes and supporting emerging researchers.

A Platform for Future Technology Leaders

Alongside the competition, the Olympiad serves as a platform for knowledge exchange among school students, educators, researchers and representatives of the high-tech industry.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sinovation Ventures and 01.ai CEO Lee Kai-fu, International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Board Chair Elena Marinova, Kazakhstan Sport Programming Federation President Bagdat Mussin, Kaspi.kz co-founder Mikhail Lomtadze and Freedom Holding Corp. Chief Executive Officer Timur Turlov.

During the event, Tokayev reviewed the structure of the Olympiad, the competition tasks and demonstrations of autonomous robotic systems.

Investing in the Future

The III International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence underscores Kazakhstan's ambition to become one of Eurasia's leading centres for digital technologies and innovation.

According to the organisers, hosting the global competition contributes to international scientific cooperation, promotes engineering education and helps develop a new generation of specialists who will shape technological progress in the decades ahead.

The organisers also noted that artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future but has become a key factor in national competitiveness.

In this context, the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence not only identifies talented young developers but also helps build a global community of future leaders of the digital era.