Silkroad Innovation Hub in Silicon Valley recently hosted a case study presentation by Stanford Graduate School of Business on Tajikistan's AI industry. The study highlighted the emergence of AI in the country through organizations like zypl.ai, the AI Council, and tajrupt.
The case study began with an analysis of a Harvard University master's thesis that emphasized the need for AI in Tajikistan to avoid the middle-income trap. By investing in AI and machine learning early on, Tajikistan could secure long-term economic growth and attract foreign investments.
zypl.ai, a prime example in the study, showcased the scalability of AI algorithms developed in Tajikistan, exporting over $1 million worth of AI software and attracting $3 million in investments from global investors. This success led to the opening of a new headquarters in Dubai's AI & Web3 campus.
The case study also delved into the National AI Development Strategy until 2040, the first of its kind in Central Asia, and outlined plans for AI education in Tajik schools and training 500 AI engineers for export-oriented development.
The event was attended by Tajik graduates from top US universities on full scholarships, symbolizing the country's transformation of youth potential into human capital through AI development. Tajikistan aims to establish Area AI in Dushanbe as a hub for AI infrastructure and innovation in the next five years.
