Central Asian companies are implementing artificial intelligence twice as fast as others

Central Asian companies are moving twice as fast as the global average in implementing artificial intelligence (AI), Euronews reported, citing KPMG’s 2026 Technology Report.

According to the study, 53 percent of companies in the region have implemented AI at the production level and are achieving measurable results from it. This figure is 24 percent globally.

More than 2,500 technology leaders in 27 countries were surveyed for the KPMG report. Of these, 32 were from Central Asian companies and 40 from the Caucasus.

At the same time, KPMG did not rule out the possibility that some respondents in the region may have included specific solutions, such as text or voice bots, in the concept of “implementing AI in production.”

**Why is the region adopting AI faster?**

According to the report, 44 percent of companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus prefer to actively test new technologies rather than wait for them to arrive. This figure is 21 percent globally.

Another 43 percent of companies are adopting new technologies “rapidly but selectively.” Globally, the share of companies choosing this approach has reached 36 percent.

KPMG also cited the region’s relatively high digitalization as one of the key factors. Many companies already have the necessary infrastructure to connect databases and external systems, which allows them to implement AI solutions faster.

For example, Kazakhstan’s Kazakhtelecom is using artificial intelligence in customer service, procurement, HR, finance, documentation, and employee recruitment. Company employees can create AI agents that are tailored to their tasks without programming knowledge.

BTS, a subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group, is using artificial intelligence to monitor equipment in mines through computer vision and analyze geological reports.

**What is the situation in Uzbekistan?**

One of the areas where Uzbekistan stands out in the KPMG report is “digital twins” and advanced simulation technologies.

100 percent of companies in Uzbekistan that participated in the survey plan to increase their investments in this area. The figure for Central Asia and the Caucasus is 87 percent, and for the world as a whole is 72 percent.

The company explained this by the large share of energy, mining, manufacturing, logistics and other large infrastructure facilities in the region’s economy. In such areas, “digital twins” are useful for early detection of equipment failures, optimization of operating modes, and reduction of downtime.

Expanding the AI ecosystem in Uzbekistan has also become a state-level priority. In August, it was announced that the country had risen 25 places in the international AI readiness ranking, reaching 62nd place. By 2030, Uzbekistan is planned to enter the top 50, increase the volume of AI-based software products and services to $ 1.5 billion, and implement more than 200 projects.

**There is momentum, but there is a lack of strategy**

The study also noted a problematic aspect against the backdrop of rapid growth in the region.

Only 34 percent of companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus have a clear AI strategy covering the entire organization. This figure is 76 percent worldwide.

Only 25 percent of companies in the region have a management system that controls the use of AI across various departments. The share of companies with such a system in the world is 69 percent.

According to experts, the next challenge for the region will not be to launch a bunch of AI experiments, but to turn successful projects into a company-wide system.