Central Asia Resists US Pressure to Choose Sides in AI Race
Trump Sends Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress as Riyadh Rejects Israel Condition Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on… Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are tossing figurative darts at a US trial balloon connected to the intensifying race between the United States and China for leadership in AI development.
Reuters reported on August 14 that the US State Department haddrafted a notestating that any nation interested in widening access to advanced American know-how and technology in the AI sector under a program known asPax Silicamust refrain from participating in a rival Chinese initiative known as theWorld Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization(WAICO).
Kazakhstan is a member of both Pax Silica and WAICO, while Uzbekistan is a signatory to the Chinese initiative while expressing keen interest in expanding cooperation with the United States in AI development.
More broadly, the United States hastaken stepsover the past 18 months to expand economic ties with all five Central Asian states.
Actions and statements by Kazakh and Uzbek officials since news of the draft State Department note began circulating indicate that both states are disinclined to adhere to what amounts to an American demand.
Kazakh officials have not publicly commented on the issue of the country’s participation in both Pax Silica and WAICO, but recent developments suggest Astana is intent on maintaining close contacts with China in the AI sphere.
On August 18, experts from the countries’ respective academies of sciencesagreedto jointly develop a science-focused AI platform to analyze “scientific literature and large data sets, identifying patterns, formulating and testing hypotheses, modeling complex processes, planning experiments, and predicting results,” according to a Kazakh government statement.
The Kazakhstan and China are also working on an AI initiative called DeepBas, which aims to develop “specialized models” enabling the more efficient management of water resources.
Exchange programs are likewise proceeding.
Kazakh engineers from the national space company recently participated in atraining programin China on using AI to analyze satellite data to improve natural disaster early warning capabilities.
In addition, at a recentsymposiumin Almaty, Chinese and Kazakh researchers discussed AI applications in medicine and agriculture, as well as joint research and training for young AI specialists.
Uzbekistan has perhaps been more direct in addressing the brewing AI issue.
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