In a move sounding like a science-fiction plot turned policy, Uzbekistan unveiled a sweeping blueprint to wipe out bureaucratic drag and flood the economy with AI talent by 2030. Official rhetoric frames it as a humane, proactive state that serves citizens before they apply, but observers warn the plan hinges on flawless digital systems and broad social buy-in. At two parallel forums in Tashkent, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a six-task program to reshape public service delivery: expand public services to 1,500 and move 95% online; fully transition to a paperless government; digitize 25 million documents (out of 40 million), with 5 million more planned next year; halve service times; and reduce duplicate procedures across more than 300 licensing and utility connections.
AI platforms such as the Government Services Portal, License System, Yagona Darcha and Call Centers already operate, while a new Program Office will oversee results. A $3 million fund will reward bureaucratic-reduction initiatives. Parallel to this, Uzbekistan unveiled the ‘5 Million AI Prompters’ program, a partnership with the United Arab Emirates to train 4.75 million students, 150,000 teachers and 100,000 government employees by 2030. Education will be infused with AI across schools, vocational programs and higher education, supported by a $100 million allocation. The plan includes designating November as Youth Artificial Intelligence Month and launching the Silk Road Artificial Intelligence Forum, signaling a bid to position Uzbekistan as a regional hub of digital government and AI innovation.
Proponents argue the reform will expand access to services, speed up transactions, and increase transparency through interlinked ministries and a digital oversight Program Office. Critics caution about privacy, cybersecurity, and the risk of leaving behind those without reliable internet or digital literacy. The strategy relies on mass training and international cooperation, notably with the UAE and other partners, to deliver a scalable, accountable model. Looking ahead, the plan’s success will depend on execution: robust data protection, clear redress mechanisms, price of digital IDs, and the ability to sustain a long-term investment in educators and infrastructure.