Kazakh school students win 7 medals at IOAI 2025 in Beijing – the best result in the country’s history, DKNews.kz reports.
The future of artificial intelligence is already taking shape in Kazakhstan. Young talents from the country delivered a triumphant performance at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI 2025), earning 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
From August 2 to 9, Beijing became the global capital of artificial intelligence, bringing together 77 teams from 61 countries for one of the world’s most prestigious olympiads. Kazakhstan was represented by two teams, both of which contributed to this historic achievement.
Seven medals and international recognition
Gold medals were awarded to Kasymkan Zhanibek, Abu Kanabek, and Sultanbi Isatay – names that are already becoming symbols of Kazakhstan’s rising generation of tech innovators.
Aushakhman Talim claimed silver, while Timur Shakuov, Dauzhan Beketov, and Sultanbek Sary earned bronze.
In addition, Batyr Yerdenov received an honorable mention from the IOAI organizing committee for his outstanding effort and team spirit.
In the unofficial medal count, Kazakhstan joined the global elite, tying for second place in number of gold medals with Poland, India, and Vietnam (three golds each). Only Russia was ahead, with six gold medals. Singapore, Romania, Japan, Sweden, and Hong Kong also ranked among the top performers.
What is IOAI and why does it matter?
IOAI is more than just an olympiad – it’s a global platform where students showcase their knowledge and skills in key areas of modern AI:
- machine learning
- image and video generation
- natural language processing
- computer vision
- and team-based AI problem solving
The competition demands not only strong technical knowledge, but also creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork. Participants work on both individual and collaborative challenges that closely mirror real-world applications of AI.
Beyond the contest itself, the program includes lectures by international experts, ethical discussions, and cultural and educational activities aimed at inspiring young people to engage with AI.
Support that made a difference
The national team’s journey was made possible thanks to Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s international innovation cluster and the team’s general partner. Astana Hub provided essential support throughout the preparation process, helping Kazakhstan step confidently onto the global stage and strengthening its role as an emerging hub for AI innovation.
The team’s participation was organized by the Kazakhstan Federation of Competitive Programming (CPFED), which handled the selection, training, logistics, and coordination. The federation's mission is to promote competitive programming across the country and improve Kazakhstan’s performance at both national and international levels – a goal that was clearly achieved this year.
The future of AI is in the hands of youth
Seven medals at IOAI 2025 is more than a win – it’s proof of the growing strength of Kazakhstan’s IT education system and the passion young students have for future technologies. Behind this result is hard work from coaches and mentors, government support, initiatives from Astana Hub and CPFED, and the faith and encouragement of families.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the team’s journey – especially Astana Hub, CPFED, dedicated teachers, and parents who believed in their children.
Kazakhstan is no longer just keeping pace with global trends – it’s helping to define them. The country’s success at IOAI 2025 is a bold step toward a future where young Kazakh minds lead the way in global tech innovation.
