US allocates $5 million to Central Asia for cybersecurity

US Sends $5 Million to Central Asia for Cybersecurity

Washington has allocated $5 million for the development of the digital sector and cybersecurity in Central Asian countries. This was announced at the C5+1 conference on "superintelligence" currently taking place in Astana.

Representatives from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the United States gathered in the capital of Kazakhstan. The main topics of the meeting were artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, data centers, and protection against cyber threats.

Mark Cameron, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, announced that Washington has allocated $5 million to the countries of the region through CRDF Global.

The funds will be directed toward the development of digital technologies and cyber defense. Specifically, this involves training specialists, improving cyber incident response, protecting critical infrastructure and the financial sector, as well as developing national cybersecurity policies.

"We intend to help improve cyber hygiene, enhance cyber incident response, protect critical infrastructure, strengthen financial sector security, and develop cybersecurity policy," Cameron said.

The C5+1 conference is also dedicated to the development of neural networks, digital infrastructure, and data centers. Participants are discussing support for IT startups, joint research and training in the field of AI, digital services, and cooperation with American technology companies.

Special attention was drawn to the new name for artificial intelligence. US President Donald Trump previously suggested calling AI "superintelligence," as the word "artificial," in his opinion, "makes intelligence sound fake."

Trump announced the renaming of AI on September 22 during his speech at the UN General Assembly. It is also known that the US Department of State recommended that American diplomats use the term "superintelligence" instead of the usual "artificial intelligence."

The meeting in Astana is a continuation of the agreements from the C5+1 summit, which took place in Washington last November with the participation of the leaders of the five Central Asian countries and the US President.