Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A study by the MIT Kuo Sharper Center has assessed the readiness of Uzbekistan and four other countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus to develop artificial intelligence (AI), identifying significant progress in research and technology alongside persistent infrastructure constraints.
The findings were presented at Columbia University in New York during a discussion titled The Next AI Frontier: Central Asia and the Caucasus in the Global Technology Shift. The report covers Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan and represents the first comprehensive assessment of the region using a unified methodology.
Shamil Ibragimov, the centre's research director, presented the findings. Work on the study began in April 2026, with its initial results unveiled on 22 September at ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026 in Tashkent.
The authors noted that countries across the region have made substantial progress in AI development over the past three years. However, their technological ambitions continue to outpace infrastructure capabilities. Key constraints include insufficient computing capacity and the need for reliable electricity supplies.
Government policy and infrastructure
According to the study, all five countries have established legislative frameworks for regulating artificial intelligence, with responsibility for the sector assigned to institutions at least at ministerial level in each country. In Uzbekistan, AI-related provisions have been incorporated into existing legislation.
At the same time, the region remains dependent on foreign cloud platforms, with data centres located in Frankfurt, Delhi and Dubai.
While the region had no graphics processing unit (GPU) computing capacity three years ago, it now has three supercomputers included in the global TOP500 ranking.
Ibragimov said decisions taken over the next one to two years on access to advanced chips and the provision of energy infrastructure could shape the region's technological development for the following decade.
Growth in AI research and specialist training
Between 2021 and 2025, the five countries produced 4,278 scientific publications on artificial intelligence. The annual number of publications increased more than fivefold over this period.
The quality of research has also improved. Some 42% of the papers are published in first-quartile journals, while the region's weighted citation index stands at 1.5, compared with the global average of 1.0.
However, large-scale training in AI remains largely limited to short online courses. The study's authors said the next priority should be more advanced specialist education, preparing professionals who can not only use existing AI tools but also develop new models.
Startups are ahead of large companies in AI adoption
The research covered 650 startups and 103 companies employing more than 100 people.
Around 80% of the surveyed startups identify themselves as AI companies. Among businesses established in 2023 or later, the share reaches 81%.
Nevertheless, 84% of startups report a shortage of GPU resources, while 71% rely on foreign cloud platforms.
Among larger companies, 68% are still exploring potential AI applications or implementing pilot projects. Only 3% have made artificial intelligence the foundation of their operations, while nearly half lack a clear strategy for its adoption.
Ibragimov identified the gap between startup activity and demand from larger businesses as one of the region's main opportunities for development.
He also called for stronger regional integration. In his assessment, individual national markets are relatively small, while a unified regional market could attract greater investment.
The study identifies renewable energy potential, a geographical position at the centre of Eurasia and relative stability as key advantages of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Uzbekistan leads the region in AI research publications
A separate section of the report examines Uzbekistan's performance.
The number of AI-related scientific publications in the country increased from 26 in 2021 to 861 in 2025, a rise of more than 27 times. Uzbekistan surpassed Kazakhstan, which recorded 579 publications in 2025.
Together, the two countries account for 82% of the region's peer-reviewed scientific articles indexed in Scopus.
In July 2026, the Digital Government National Supercomputer began operating in Tashkent under the management of the Ministry of Digital Technologies. It was included in the TOP500 ranking.
During its first month of operation, the system's utilisation rate reached approximately 90%. Its computing capacity is planned to be tripled by 2027.
Uzbekistan also accounts for a substantial share of online education in the region. Of the 4.7 million Coursera learners across the five countries covered by the study, 3.4 million are in Uzbekistan.
The authors highlighted the One Million Uzbek Coders programme as one of the country's key initiatives to develop digital skills.
In the private sector, 79% of surveyed Uzbek startups identify themselves as companies operating in the AI sector.
Uzbekistan also performs strongly in electricity infrastructure. Transmission and distribution losses account for 5% of electricity, the lowest figure among the countries examined.
The country has also announced plans for data centre projects involving DataVolt and LinkWise.
IT Park attracts technology companies and investors
The study identifies IT Park Uzbekistan as one of the region's key instruments for attracting technology companies, alongside Kazakhstan's Astana Hub and Kyrgyzstan's High Technology Park.
Residents of these technology hubs receive tax incentives. Uzbekistan is also developing the special legal zone Enterprise Uzbekistan, which is aimed at foreign investors and technology companies.
According to IT Park, 607 new export-oriented residents joined its ecosystem in the first half of 2026, an increase of 177% compared with the same period a year earlier.
The number of new residents with foreign capital reached 297, up 154%. More than 1,200 companies with foreign capital are now part of the ecosystem.
Companies operating within the ecosystem are represented in 75 countries, with the United States accounting for the largest number of new foreign residents.
Overall, 1,200 IT Park residents export services and digital products to 102 countries. By comparison, only eight companies were engaged in such exports in 2017.
Of the current exporters, 315 operate in Uzbekistan's regions. North America remains the largest export market, accounting for 54% of total exports.
The presentation of the study in New York formed part of IT Park Uzbekistan's efforts to promote the country's technological potential among US investors and partners.
The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology centre established in 2007 to promote innovative entrepreneurship.
According to the organisation, it has supported more than 600 innovators, including over 400 fellows from 67 countries. Companies founded by its fellows serve more than 17 million customers.
