Kazakhstan Opens International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad in Astana

Astana, Kazakhstan, is hosting the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IOAI-2026), an event held under the patronage of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and UNESCO. The competition, organized by the Kazakhstan Sports Programming Federation with technology firm Kaspi.kz as the general partner, underscores Kazakhstan's growing role in the global technology community.

In his opening remarks, President Tokayev stressed the importance of high-quality education and unwavering support for talented young individuals. He proudly noted Kazakhstan's success at the previous year's Olympiad in Beijing, where students secured multiple medals, showcasing the nation's intellectual and creative potential. "Your knowledge and ideas may one day form the basis for breakthrough solutions in medicine, education, environmental protection, and many other vital areas," Tokayev stated, highlighting the transformative power of AI.

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We attach particular importance to high-quality education and comprehensive support for talented children. Last year, at the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad in Beijing, students from Kazakhstan won three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. This is an achievement our country is rightfully proud of. It once again demonstrates the immense intellectual and creative potential of our younger generation. Your knowledge and ideas may one day form the basis for breakthrough solutions in medicine, education, environmental protection, and many other vital areas. It is possible that right here, at this Olympiad, new ideas and projects destined to change the world for the better will begin to take shape. The true value of this Olympiad lies not only in winning medals. Above all, it is an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas, forge new friendships, and collectively seek answers to the challenges of the future.

The President encouraged participants to view the Olympiad not just as a competition for medals, but as a platform for mutual learning, idea exchange, and collaboration. "The true value of this Olympiad lies not only in winning medals. Above all, it is an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas, forge new friendships, and collectively seek answers to the challenges of the future," he added.

Kaspi.kz, the general partner, views its involvement as a strategic investment in youth and Kazakhstan's technological advancement. CEO Mikheil Lomtadze thanked the President for his support and shared his vision for AI development. "My advice to the Olympiad participants: stay curious and humble, never stop learning, and create technologies that make people's lives better," Lomtadze urged. He emphasized that world-class technology can be developed anywhere, not just in traditional tech hubs, reinforcing Kazakhstan's ambition to be a global leader in innovation.

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First of all, I would like to thank President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev for supporting education, talented youth, and the development of artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan. It is a great honor for Kaspi.kz to be the general partner of IOAI-2026. Artificial intelligence is already capable of solving complex problems. However, humanity's main advantage lies in its values, the ability to choose truly important tasks, and the responsibility for what it creates. Kaspi.kz was created here in Kazakhstan by a team that believes world-class technology can be built anywhere in the world. You don't have to be born in Silicon Valley to create a product used by millions. My advice to the Olympiad participants: stay curious and humble, never stop learning, and create technologies that make people's lives better. The world needs not only more powerful artificial intelligence but also responsible people who will use it for good.