Uzbekistan will launch an annual national competition in artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its broader efforts to develop digital skills and nurture local talent. The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on October 21, dedicated to advancing AI technologies in the country.
The competition will identify and reward the most talented young innovators, their mentors, and educational institutions contributing to AI education. According to the presidential initiative, 500 young participants will receive laptops, 100 teachers will be awarded cash prizes of $1,000 each, and two educational institutions will be granted electric cars.
President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the development of AI relies not only on infrastructure and algorithms but also on strong human capital.
“The development of artificial intelligence depends not only on modern infrastructure and algorithms, but also on qualified personnel. The basis of this field is mathematics and computer science. Therefore, training personnel should, first of all, start from school,” he said.
As a continuation of the successful “One Million Uzbek Coders” initiative, Uzbekistan is now launching the “One Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders” project. The program aims to train 100,000 young people in AI this year and expand to at least 500,000 next year. Schoolchildren will also be included in the project to build foundational digital and analytical skills from an early age.
Starting from the next academic year, computer science curricula across schools will include AI-related topics. A special textbook is being developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to support this new curriculum.
In addition, the University of New Uzbekistan will train 100 AI instructors this year and 1,300 next year. These trainers will help educate computer science teachers in schools and universities nationwide through a cascade model.
Every year, the country’s top 100 computer science teachers, along with potential specialists from ministries and regional administrations, will be sent abroad for advanced IT training in countries with strong expertise in digital technology.
The new competition and training initiatives are part of Uzbekistan’s broader vision to build a skilled AI workforce and position the country among the world’s top 50 nations in artificial intelligence by 2030.
