President Reviews Plans for AI Integration into Uzbekistan’s Economy and Social Sphere

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 6 October, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Uzbekistan and their integration into the country’s economic and social sectors.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a key tool in areas such as the economy, education, healthcare, security, and other strategic fields. Its implementation enhances the efficiency of public administration, promotes rational use of resources, and improves the quality of services provided to the population.

In recent years, systematic reforms in this area have helped Uzbekistan rise 17 positions in the international AI readiness ranking, reaching 70th place among 188 countries and becoming the leader in Central Asia for the first time.

The President noted that these achievements represent only the first steps, with extensive work ahead. Last year, the Strategy for AI Development until 2030 was approved, and a dedicated center under the Ministry of Digital Technologies has been established.

The presentation outlined priority areas for AI development. A total of $50 million has been allocated for AI projects in the economy and social sectors, with a portfolio of 86 projects covering healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, transport, ecology, and finance. In parallel, a supercomputer cluster is being created to provide modern computational capacity for AI solutions.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of studying and adopting advanced domestic and international experience, as well as close collaboration with expatriate experts, private-sector representatives, and leading specialists.

Special attention is being given to the creation of modern data centers and favorable conditions for investors interested in AI infrastructure development. A critical factor for the successful growth of the sector remains the training of qualified personnel. Efforts begin in schools, including teacher upskilling, curriculum updates, and development of next-generation textbooks.

Under the national program “One Million AI Leaders,” educational platforms aistudy.uz and omp.aistudy.uz have launched five free online courses. By 2027, the program aims to train one million young specialists equipped with modern AI knowledge and skills.

To support promising ideas nationwide, hackathons will be organized. Notably, the HealthTech AI Hackathon was recently held in Nukus, focusing on healthcare issues. Similar events are planned in the fields of education, water management, the judicial system, and entrepreneurship.

The President endorsed the initiatives presented and instructed that they be further refined and expanded to ensure accelerated AI adoption, the use of best practices, and the enhancement of human capital in the sector.