On June 12 in Bishkek, StrategEast, in partnership with Google, launched a large-scalecross-country project – Build with AI for Sustainable Growth. The program lasts several months will bring together developers from all over Central Asia andthe Caucasus region to search for solving sustainable development problems using AI technologies. Top teams developers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia will present their projects at the final hackathon in Astana in the fall of 2024.
Google’s partner in implementing the program is an independent organization development of the digital economy of Eurasia StrategEast in collaboration with the USAID project on the development of entrepreneurship and the business environment. The initiative will be implemented in coordination and with the support of the governments of the region’s countries.
As part of the Build with AI for Sustainable Growth program, experts from Google and StrategEast will hold a series of hackathons and seminars for technical specialists using the company’s tools based on artificial intelligence (AI). These tools are based on the most advanced large LLM language model – Gemini. The program focused on finding solutions to sustainable development problems in the Central region Asia and the Caucasus.
For Google, supporting the program is part of a focused effort to train in the use of AI tools by IT industry specialists. From the beginning of 2024, the Google team has already conducted 27 seminars and workshops in various countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus, in which 900 developers took part.
The final of the Build with AI for Sustainable Growth program in the form of a hackathon is planned to be held in Astana in the fall of 2024. The participating teams will present their prototypes or even finished products for sustainable development in such current areas as:
- improving air and water quality
- environment, health, and quality of life
- land degradation, desertification, the decline in species diversity, and, as a consequence of deforestation
- management and protection of water resources – protection from depletion
- agriculture and food security.
Olga Skorokhodova, Head of Government Relations and State Relations Department Google’s policy in Central Asia and the Caucasus: “Google is actively working to resolve economic and social development issues through technology Artificial Intelligence (AI). We recently published a white paper on AI sprinters – a set of recommendations for governments of developing countries on realizing the potential of AI for development. One of our key recommendations: a strategic approach to developing AI literacy and supporting local AI innovations. We hope that the Build with AI for Sustainable Growth will contribute to achieving this important goal.”
You can apply to participate in the Build with AI for Sustainable Growth Hackathon by going to this link. Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2024.
In 2023-2024, Google in partnership with StrategEast, the Ministry of Higher Education and science of Kazakhstan, and the Ministry of Digital Development of Uzbekistan, with support of the USAID project for the development of entrepreneurship and business environment implemented a successful IT Hub project, within which over 1,500 students from leading universities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan took advanced courses from Google on artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud technologies.
StrategEast is a leading independent organization dedicated to developing the digital economy of Eurasia in cooperation with international financial organizations, development agencies, global technology companies and governments of Eurasian countries. StrategEast is a non-profit organization with offices in the USA, Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Google for Developers is a community of developers and startups working with Google technologies. Community members have the opportunity to receive training and certification and participate in local and international meetups and conferences Google. The community is open to residents of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
USAID is the leading American government agency that, together with Central Asian peoples, contributes to ensuring social and economic well-being.
