ROME — A comprehensive study aimed at assessing artificial intelligence (AI) capacity across Central Eurasia was launched at a conference on April 23, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This initiative seeks to guide investment and policy decisions in AI by providing a data-driven methodology for evaluating how countries build and scale their AI systems.
The study aims to address critical gaps in understanding regional AI ecosystems, emphasizing a holistic approach rather than relying on isolated examples. “This is not just a regional study; we consider it a concept for how the world should assess AI ecosystems in emerging markets,” stated Shamil Ibragimov, the director of research at the MIT center.
The Central Eurasian AI Readiness initiative will focus on Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is being conducted in collaboration with the Silkroad Innovation Hub, with backing from Freedom Holding, Astana Hub, and IT Park Uzbekistan. Ibragimov noted, “We are beginning to build a framework for understanding how AI develops across markets and at what stage, starting with Central Eurasia. The methodology we are establishing is designed to travel, giving other regions a way to translate fragmented progress into a coherent story that investors and policymakers can act on.”
Countries in the region are rapidly expanding their AI capabilities through investments in infrastructure, education, and startup ecosystems, reflecting diverse national strategies within a common regional vision. Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub, highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating, “AI has become a national priority, and we are systematically investing in human capital, introducing new educational models, supporting AI startups, and creating platforms for collaboration between global tech companies and researchers.” He emphasized that the recent launch of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence, alem.ai, is crucial to fostering a unified environment for talent, infrastructure, and innovation.
In Uzbekistan, initiatives are concentrating on enhancing workforce capacity and the practical application of AI across various sectors. Azamat Karamatov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, described the country’s commitment to building AI skills among the youth. He noted, “Through national initiatives such as the ‘Five Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders’ program, we are equipping a new generation with practical AI skills while embedding AI across startup development, export-oriented services, and public-private partnerships.”
The report underpinning this initiative is structured around four fundamental areas: infrastructure, including computing capacity and data centers; government and legal systems; human capital and training; and AI-driven startups and commercialization efforts. This framework aims to elucidate the interconnected nature of AI development across the region.
Moreover, the initiative seeks to enhance the global visibility of Central Eurasia’s AI landscape, encouraging stakeholders to contribute data from their respective ecosystems. Maken Sikhayev, an adviser to the president of Freedom Finance Global PLC, stressed the importance of this visibility. “We have invested in the infrastructure — the computers, the data centers, the sovereign AI stack. What we want now is for the startups, researchers, engineers, and ecosystem builders on top of it to be seen globally. That is why this research matters as it gives Central Eurasia’s AI ecosystem visibility,” he said.
Asset Abdualiyev, founder and CEO of Silkroad Innovation Hub, underscored the region’s ambition to establish itself as a formidable player in the global AI arena. “What we are starting to build together with MIT Kuo Sharper Center is the evidence base that will allow the region to be seen differently, as a place where AI is being built and scaled, and as a market that investors and policymakers can better understand,” stated Abdualiyev.
The findings of the Central Eurasian AI Readiness initiative are expected to be presented at various regional technology events, including ICT Week Uzbekistan and Digital Bridge Kazakhstan, beginning in September 2026. This research promises to not only enhance the regional understanding of AI development but also strategically position Central Eurasia within the broader global AI landscape.
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