The Kuo Sharper Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a study assessing the level of readiness of Uzbekistan and four other countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus for artificial intelligence (AI) development. The assessment identified significant achievements in research and technology, alongside persistent limitations in infrastructure.
The study's findings were presented at Columbia University in New York during a discussion titled 'The Next Frontier of AI: Central Asia and the Caucasus in the Global Technological Shift.' The report covers Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, representing the first comprehensive regional assessment based on a unified methodology.
Shamil Ibragimov, Director of the research center, presented the conclusions. Work on the study began in April 2026, with initial results unveiled on September 22 at ICT Week Uzbekistan 2026 in Tashkent.
Government Policy and Infrastructure
The authors noted that over the past three years, the region's countries have made substantial progress in AI development. Nevertheless, their technological ambitions continue to outpace infrastructural capabilities. The main obstacles are insufficient computing power and the need for reliable energy sources.
According to the study, all five countries have established legislative frameworks for regulating artificial intelligence, and responsibility for this sector is assigned to institutions at least at the ministerial level in each country. In Uzbekistan, provisions related to AI have been integrated into existing legislation.
However, the region remains dependent on foreign cloud platforms, as data centers are located in Frankfurt, Delhi, and Dubai. Although the region lacked GPU computing power three years ago, three supercomputers are now operational there, included in the global TOP500 ranking.
Ibragimov emphasized that decisions made over the next one to two years regarding access to advanced chips and securing energy infrastructure could determine the region's technological development for the next decade.
Growth of AI Research and Specialist Training
Between 2021 and 2025, the five countries published 4,278 scientific papers on artificial intelligence. The annual number of publications during this period increased by more than fivefold. The quality of research also improved: about 42% of articles were published in Q1 journals, and the region's weighted citation index stands at 1.5 compared to the global average of 1.0.
However, large-scale AI training is largely limited to short online courses. The study's authors believe that the next priority should be more advanced specialized education aimed at preparing professionals who can not only use existing AI tools but also develop new models.
Startups Outpace Large Companies in AI Adoption
The study surveyed 650 startups and 103 companies employing over 100 people. Approximately 80% of surveyed startups identify themselves as AI companies, and among enterprises founded in 2023 or later, this figure reaches 81%. Nevertheless, 84% of startups report a shortage of GPU resources, and 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 core of their operations, while nearly half lack a clear implementation strategy. Ibragimov identified the gap between startup activity and demand from larger enterprises as one of the region's main development opportunities.
He also called for strengthening regional integration, noting that individual national markets are relatively small, whereas a unified regional market could attract more investment. The study points to renewable energy potential, geographical location in the center of Eurasia, and relative stability as key advantages of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Uzbekistan Leads in Regional AI Research
A dedicated section of the report focuses on Uzbekistan's results. The number of scientific publications related to AI in the country grew from 26 in 2021 to 861 in 2025, an increase of more than 27 times. Uzbekistan surpassed Kazakhstan, which recorded 579 publications in 2025. Together, these two countries account for 82% of the region's peer-reviewed scientific articles indexed in Scopus.
In July 2026, the National Supercomputer of the Digital Government began operating in Tashkent under the Ministry of Digital Technologies. It was included in the TOP500 ranking. In its first month of operation, the system was utilized approximately 90%, and its computing power is planned to triple by 2027.
Uzbekistan also holds a significant share in the region's online education. Of the 4.7 million learners on Coursera across the five countries covered by the study, 3.4 million are in Uzbekistan. The authors specifically highlighted the 'One Million Uzbek Coders' program as one of the country's key initiatives for developing digital skills.
In the private sector, 79% of surveyed Uzbek startups identify themselves as AI sector companies. Uzbekistan also demonstrates high performance in electrical infrastructure: transmission and distribution losses are 5% of electricity, the lowest rate among the studied countries. The country has also announced plans for data center projects involving DataVolt and LinkWise.
IT Park Attracts Tech Companies and Investors
The study identifies the Uzbekistan IT Park as one of the region's key instruments for attracting technology companies, alongside Kazakhstan's Astana Hub and Kyrgyzstan's High-Tech Park. Residents of these tech hubs receive tax benefits. Uzbekistan is also developing a special legal zone, Enterprise Uzbekistan, aimed at foreign investors and technology companies.
According to the IT Park, in the first half of 2026, 607 new export-oriented residents joined its ecosystem, a 177% increase compared to the same period last year. The number of new residents with foreign capital reached 297, a 154% increase. There are currently over 1,200 companies with foreign capital in the ecosystem. Companies operating in this ecosystem represent 75 countries, with the USA having the highest number of new foreign residents.
Overall, 1,200 IT Park residents export services and digital products to 102 countries. For comparison, only eight companies engaged in such exports in 2017. Among 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 was part of the Uzbekistan IT Park's efforts to promote the country's technological potential among American investors and partners.
The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship is a center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, established in 2007 to promote innovative entrepreneurship. According to the organization, it has supported over 600 innovators, including more than 400 participants from 67 countries. Companies founded by its participants serve over 17 million clients.
