On 20 October 2026, the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University took part in the Republican Forum “Taraz Creative Industries 2026,” held in Taraz and organised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in collaboration with Dulati University.
ISSAI Executive Director Yerbol Absalyamov presented the Institute’s research and AI products, including Qolda, a family of AI models that supports Kazakh-language technologies and can run on edge devices such as laptops and smartphones, reducing dependence on cloud infrastructure. Discussed applications of Qolda include video and film production, such as identifying objects, characters, and scenes, generating descriptions, and supporting automated tagging, content search, and storyboard analysis. Participants also considered cultural heritage uses, such as analysing photographs of traditional clothing, ornaments, artworks, and historical objects to generate metadata and make digital archives more searchable, as well as integrating Qolda into AI-powered avatars for television, education, and other creative purposes.
During the forum, ISSAI and Dulati University signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining potential cooperation in AI+X, language technologies, and robotics, with a view to joint research and practical AI applications for regional needs.
Also, Mr. Absalyamov and Dr. Azamat Yeshmukhametov, Head of ISSAI’s ARMS Laboratory, joined the panel “The Smart Region: From Pilots to Scaling,” where Dr. Yeshmukhametov presented ISSAI’s robotics and AI research.
The other speakers of the forum included Yerbol Karashukeyev, Akim of Zhambyl Region; Dinara Shcheglova, Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education; Lazzat Yerkinbayeva, Chair of the Management Board and Rector of Dulati University; and Nurzhan Sagyndyk, Director of the Regional Development Office at Astana Hub, and others.
ISSAI’s participation underscored the role of research institutions in turning scientific advances into real-world applications and supporting Kazakh-language digital solutions and Kazakhstan’s innovation ecosystem.