ASTANA: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has officially inaugurated the 3rd International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), encouraging young participants to view the event as more than just a competition for medals.Addressing students and delegates at the opening ceremony, President Tokayev said the true value of the Olympiad lies in the opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas, build lasting friendships, and work together to find solutions to the challenges of the future.“The real value of this Olympiad lies not only in winning medals.
Above all, it’s an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas, build new friendships, and jointly search for answers to the challenges of the future,” he said.The President also stressed the importance of lifelong learning, urging young people to remain curious and open to gaining knowledge from others throughout their lives.“To learn the best knowledge and practices from other people and even companies is not a disgrace, because it is never too late to learn. The real disgrace is not learning,” he remarked.Concluding his address, Tokayev encouraged participants to remain optimistic while preparing themselves for future challenges before officially declaring the 3rd International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence open.
The 2026 IOAI, being held in Astana, is expected to serve not only as a prestigious international competition for school students but also as a platform to promote technological innovation, nurture future entrepreneurs, and strengthen the next generation of AI talent. According to Bagdat Mussin, Chairman of the Board of JSC Kazakhtelecom, the Olympiad is expected to play a significant role in advancing technological development and fostering innovation among young minds.
