May 28, 2025 – Astana
The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) had the pleasure of welcoming Sarim Aziz, Director of Public Policy at Meta Platforms Inc., for a productive visit focused on artificial intelligence research and collaboration opportunities. He was joined by representatives from Aretera Public Affairs, including Pavel Melnikov, Partner and Managing Director for Central Asia and the South Caucasus, as well as Advisors Meirambek Tynysh and Yerlan Karimov.
From ISSAI, the meeting was attended by General Director Dr. Atakan Varol, Executive Director Yerbol Abslyamov, Government Relations Manager Alaidar Amirseiit, IT Product Manager Amina Baikenova, and Senior External Affairs Manager Aigerim Sarsenova. During the visit, Alaidar Amirseiit presented an overview of ISSAI’s mission and major initiatives.
The discussion was insightful and engaging, covering the growing role of AI in Central Asia and the importance of international collaboration. Mr. Aziz expressed particular interest in ISSAI’s flagship projects, including KazLLM, Mangisoz, and Oylan2, and was impressed by the scope and impact of the work being done in Kazakhstan. He highlighted Meta’s Facebook AI Research (FAIR) labs as a valuable opportunity for PhD students pursuing advanced AI research, encouraging further exploration of global partnerships.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to exploring avenues for collaboration and strengthening ties between the global tech community and regional AI innovation leaders. ISSAI is proud to be at the forefront of AI development in Central Asia and looks forward to continuing its work in advancing science and technology through strategic partnerships.