From February 25 to March 4, 2025, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Information Technologies Akmaral Abdigalieva and Lecturer Tolganai Myrzakeldi from Atyrau Oil and Gas University named after S. Utebayev visited the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) and explored the work of laboratories in the field of AI and data science at Nazarbayev University. The guests expressed a strong interest in developing strategic cooperation in AI and digital technologies, as well as in studying best practices and establishing long-term partnership ties.
Yerbol Absalyamov, Executive Director of ISSAI, provided an overview of the Institute’s current research areas and projects, emphasizing its key role in advancing AI in Kazakhstan. ISSAI showcased several of its prominent projects, including Soyle, Oylan, and Aibike, which highlight the Institute’s progress in AI-driven language learning, education, and research tools. The visitors also had the chance to engage with ISSAI’s data scientists and researchers, discussing the impact of these technologies on various sectors.
Gibrat Kurmanov, General Manager of ISSAI, shared details about the Summer Research Program 2025 (SRP), which offers an opportunity for students from Atyrau Oil and Gas University, as well as those from other Kazakhstani and international universities, to gain hands-on experience and develop expertise in fields such as AI, machine learning (ML), deep learning, and related disciplines.
Research Assistants Hamad Hassan Awan and Sakiru Olarewaju Olagunju (PhD students of Nazarbayev University) presented their ongoing research, outlining key objectives and insights. Mr. Hamad discussed leveraging AI to strengthen circular economy practices by extracting actionable data and developing a structured index to guide professionals in implementing optimal strategies. Mr. Sakiru presented his PhD research on AI-driven processing of satellite images to estimate earthwork volume.
As part of their visit, the delegation from Atyrau Oil and Gas University had the opportunity to explore several key laboratories at the university:
Azamat Yeshmukhametov, head of the Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics Systems (ARMS) Laboratory demonstrated the latest innovations in using AI for robotics and pointed out their adaptability in various fields. The project focused on developing an innovative hybrid robotic platform equipped with a manipulator for performing maintenance tasks inside pipes was particularly fascinating for the guests. This robot is specifically designed to operate in confined spaces, enabling efficient maintenance even in the most hard-to-reach areas.
Visiting delegation expressed interest in the work of the Human-Robot Interaction Lab led by Professor Anara Sandygulova. Prof. Sandygulova’s Lab focuses on human-centered research to address socially important applications such as sign language recognition, autism therapy, technology-enhanced learning, and others. The guests from Atyrau University were presented with a robot designed to interact with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The system can sense, perceive, and act using multimodality such as gestures, face, audio, natural language, spoken and written text. This project, along with others, enabled the laboratory team to win the Best Paper award at the HRI conference.
Lecturer Tolganai Myrzakeldi shared her perceptions:
“What impressed me most at NU was the atmosphere of innovation and the high level of research in the field of AI. The ISSAI team demonstrated professionalism and openness to collaboration. I was particularly impressed by the virtual assistant Aibike, which speaks Kazakh. I was also impressed by the robotics lab, where robots are being developed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is an excellent example of how AI plays a crucial role in addressing social issues and meeting societal needs”.
The guests then proceeded to the Robot Control and Learning (RCL) Lab which focuses on investigating novel algorithms for robot control and motion planning. Team of the RCL Lab led by Professor Matteo Rubagotti expressed their delight in having won an esteemed achievement the “2024 Best Paper Award” of the Elsevier journal “Control Engineering Practice”.
The program of the guests’ visit also included a tour of Professor Zhanat Kappasov’s laboratory. The professor is known for his high-caliber work in the field of tactile sensors. The guests were presented the Tactile Lab’s work on development of numerous devices that utilize haptic and tactile technology to address the challenges of various groups.
The guests also visited the lab of Professor Mei Yen from NUSOM. In this lab, Prof. Yen’s team works on dataset collection, 3D food printing, and hyperspectral imaging. The guests saw 3D food printing and learned how this technology is used to create personalized dishes with specific nutritional characteristics. They were also shown the hyperspectral camera in action and were explained how it can be used to determine the amounts of various substances in food products.
Esteemed guests highlighted the valuable experience they had gained during their 5-days stay in Astana. Moreover, this visit is of strategic importance in laying the groundwork for the establishment of their own Artificial Intelligence Center.
“The interdisciplinary approach, support for the Kazakh language in AI, openness to collaboration and other features are particularly useful for implementation at our university. These methods will surely help us to develop the AI Center at Atyrau Oil and Gas University” – Senior Lecturer Akmaral Abdigalieva mentioned.
The guests were also positive about the high level of research at ISSAI, especially expressing their appreciation for the ISSAI’s achievements in development of numerous natural language processing datasets specifically for the Kazakh language. They expressed great interest in the work and projects of ISSAI and visited laboratories and had an excellent opportunity to ask questions to the creators of advanced projects in robotics, human-robot interaction, and control systems.