Uzbekistan has launched the “Five Million AI Prompters” project as President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened the international forum on artificial intelligence at the International Congress Center in Tashkent.
Before the ceremony, President Mirziyoyev reviewed AI projects and startups developed by young Uzbek specialists. He emphasized the strategic role of information technologies in strengthening national competitiveness and noted that the innovations presented reflect the country’s growing digital ecosystem and the results of ongoing reforms.
Speaking at the opening session, the president welcomed participants and underlined that digitalization has become a key indicator of national progress. He noted that artificial intelligence is now a fundamental factor shaping economic sectors, public administration, and daily life. Referencing the scientific heritage of Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Abu Rayhan Beruni, and Mirzo Ulugbek, he highlighted Uzbekistan’s historic contributions to fields that underpin modern AI.
President Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of adopting advanced technologies and recalled the adoption of Uzbekistan’s National AI Strategy, which has helped double the share of the digital economy in GDP and attract nearly $2bn in investments in AI and digital technologies. IT service exports have grown 4.5 times in recent years, nearing $1bn.
The president also noted progress in education, including the expansion of IT-focused higher education institutions to 145 and the training of over two million young people under the “One Million Programmers” program. Around 100 students are currently studying at leading global universities through the El-Yurt Umidi Fund.
He highlighted the growing use of AI in public services, particularly in healthcare. More than 50,000 patients have received AI-assisted diagnostics, and during a recent health campaign in Karakalpakstan, 70 percent of mammogram screenings were analyzed using locally developed AI, with 98 percent accuracy confirmed by doctors.
Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem has also expanded, with the number of IT startups increasing tenfold and attracting $300 million in investments. The President called on international organizations and global technology companies to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in artificial intelligence. Foreign experts estimate that AI could generate at least $10 billion in added value for Uzbekistan’s economy within five years.
Looking ahead, Uzbekistan aims to increase IT service exports to $5bn by 2030 and create high-paying jobs for young people. A major supercomputer cluster, developed in partnership with U.S.-based NVIDIA, will be launched next year.
To strengthen global integration, a National Transfer Office will be opened in Silicon Valley to connect Uzbek innovators with international companies, investors, and accelerators. New “Kelajak” centers will train youth across all regions, and annual AI startup competitions for schools will be introduced. Each winning school in all 14 regions will receive an AI laboratory, along with support to commercialize their projects.
A new Presidential Artificial Intelligence Competition will identify 100 talented young specialists annually, offering internships with leading technology companies in the United States, the UAE, and Europe. A total of $100mn will be allocated for these initiatives.
Announcing the launch of the new nationwide program, President Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are partnering on the “Five Million AI Prompters” initiative, described as a continuation of the “One Million Programmers” project. The program aims to train 4.75mn schoolchildren and students, 150,000 teachers, and 100,000 civil servants by 2030.
The president proposed declaring November as Youth Artificial Intelligence Month and holding the “Silk Road Artificial Intelligence Forum” annually within its framework.
During the ceremony, the president also awarded chess player Javokhir Sindarov the title of “Honored Athlete of the Republic of Uzbekistan” following his recent victory at the World Chess Cup in India.
At the end of the event, President Mirziyoyev symbolically launched the “Five Million AI Prompters” project, marking the start of a nationwide initiative to expand AI skills and accelerate the country’s technological development.
