Central Asian nations resist US pressure in AI rivalry

Central Asian nations Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are resisting United States pressure to choose between American and Chinese artificial intelligence initiatives. This tension follows reports that the US State Department drafted a note suggesting that participation in the US-led Pax Silica program requires nations to refrain from joining the Chinese-led World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).

Kazakhstan remains a member of both Pax Silica and WAICO, and recent developments suggest the country intends to maintain close AI cooperation with China. Similarly, Uzbekistan has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with the US while remaining a signatory to the Chinese initiative, seeking access to both advanced American technology and lower-cost Chinese models.

On August 18, experts from the respective academies of sciences in these nations agreed to jointly develop a science-focused AI platform to analyze large datasets and scientific literature.