Pavel Durov's visit to Kazakhstan and the AI psychologist Sonia: what's new in Central Asia in the world

The First National AI Model in Kazakh, IrbisGPT

The first national open-source language model, IrbisGPT, trained on a large dataset in the state language, has become available in Kazakhstan. The developers published the official release on the popular platform Habr.com. Now, every citizen of Kazakhstan can test the language model and contribute to its training in the Kazakh language.

A Startup from Kazakhstan Receives a UN Award

Nurbek Enseybayev, an engineer and inventor from Kazakhstan, along with his startup team Sezual, became laureates of the UN award for developing technologies under the "Inclusive City Sezual" initiative. Sezual's inventions, including a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind biolocator for the blind and a mechanical exoskeleton, provide alternative vision to 1,000 people in need.

Toys ‘R’ Us Presents First Video Ad Using Sora

Toys ‘R’ Us became the first brand to use Sora, OpenAI's long-awaited text-to-video tool, in its advertising campaign. Toys ‘R’ Us presented a 66-second video at the Cannes Lions — the annual gathering of the global advertising elite on the French Riviera.

The ChatGPT App is Now Available for All macOS Users

OpenAI has released a ChatGPT-based app for macOS. The app will be available to both paid subscribers and those using the free version of the platform. Over the past few weeks, the company has been gradually rolling out the app for ChatGPT Plus, but now it is open to all users.

An AI Psychologist Created in America

American entrepreneurs have launched Sonia, an AI therapist, to provide psychological support via an iOS app. Using generative AI and cognitive behavioral therapy, Sonia helps users cope with depression, stress, and anxiety. The subscription costs $20 per month or $200 per year. The project has attracted 8,000 users and $3.35 million in investments, including from Y Combinator.

OpenOSI — A Startup Revolutionizing Property Management

OpenOSI offers convenient bill payment, easy tracking of service requests, and instant notifications about important events. The company uses advanced cloud technologies and microservices architecture to ensure security and high performance.

First Electric Cars Produced in Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan

Production of the first electric cars has begun at the joint venture BYD Uzbekistan Factory in the Jizzakh region. The plant started operations in January 2024. This is the first stage of a $160 million project capable of producing 50,000 electric vehicles per year.

JIA and Geeks Academy to Create Websites for Small and Medium Businesses in Kyrgyzstan

The JIA Business Association announced a partnership with the international IT academy Geeks. Under this agreement, Geeks Academy will create websites for members of the JIA association free of charge.

Pavel Durov Visits Kazakhstan

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov visited Kazakhstan as part of his summer tour of Central Asia. He continues to work and study the needs of Telegram users in the region. This visit underscores the importance of Central Asia for the further development of the platform.