Central Asia lags behind in AI use

A report by technology company Microsoft shows that most Central Asian countries are among the laggards worldwide when it comes to the use of generative artificial intelligence in everyday life. The findings highlight the challenges for governments that are also pursuing ambitious plans to build digital and knowledge-based economies. Kazakhstan performed best within Central Asia. In Microsoft's global report on AI diffusion, the country was ranked 70th out of 147 countries surveyed. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared 2026 the year of artificial intelligence. The other Central Asian countries were significantly further behind. Kyrgyzstan was ranked 116th, Uzbekistan 142nd, Afghanistan 144th, Tajikistan 145th and Turkmenistan 146th. Similar to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have also announced programs to establish IT and AI centers. However, the usage data to date shows that there is still a large gap between political goals and practical dissemination. Growth from a low base On a positive note, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are among the Asian countries with the highest growth rates in the introduction of AI, according to Microsoft. This indicates that although the technology is not yet widely established, it is becoming increasingly important. In the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Georgia performed better than Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan was ranked 62nd and Georgia 54th, while Armenia, which is also planning to expand its IT and AI capacities, was only ranked 139th. Infrastructure remains crucial Overall, the Microsoft report shows a clear global divide. In economically developed countries in the global North, AI is spreading around twice as fast as in emerging countries in the global South. "This gap reflects the systemic challenges of the Global South, where limited access to electricity, internet and digital skills continue to hinder the spread of new technologies," the report states. Until these fundamental deficits are addressed, the benefits of generative AI will remain unevenly distributed. For Central Asia, this means that the establishment of AI centers alone is not enough. Digital infrastructure, education, power supply and access to modern technologies are crucial. The post Central Asia lags behind in AI use appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.