Qolda GenAI Model at International Conference on Kazakh Speech Synthesis - ISSAI

On October 27, 2026, Yerbol Absalyamov, Executive Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University, participated in the international scientific conference “The Present and Future of Kazakh Speech Synthesis,” organized by the A. Baitursynuly Institute of Linguistics. The conference brought together linguists, researchers, and artificial intelligence specialists from Kazakhstan and abroad to discuss advances in speech synthesis, computational linguistics, and AI technologies for the Kazakh language. Yerbol Absalyamov delivered a presentation titled “The Kazakh Language and AI: The Role of Scientific Research in Digital Inclusion,” highlighting ISSAI’s research and development activities, with a particular focus on Qolda (an AI model created by ISSAI under the grant funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan – BR24993001). He discussed how Qolda can contribute to expanding access to AI technologies in Kazakh and supporting digital inclusion. The presentation also highlighted the importance of high-quality language datasets, research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary collaboration in developing AI solutions that reflect the linguistic characteristics of Kazakh. Potential applications of Qolda technologies across education, communication, digital accessibility, and robotics were also discussed, demonstrating how fundamental AI research can be translated into practical solutions for society. The conference featured presentations on Kazakh phonetics, neural speech synthesis architectures, text-to-speech systems, and experimental research in speech perception and voice technologies. Academician Zeynep Bazarbayeva discussed the phonological and prosodic foundations of Kazakh speech synthesis. Representatives of the Til-Qazyna National Scientific and Practical Center presented the Karlygash Kazakh speech synthesis model. Researchers also shared experimental findings and discussed practical applications of AI models, including the use of ISSAI’s models in their research. ISSAI’s participation provided an opportunity to exchange scientific knowledge, explore shared research interests, and strengthen connections with institutions working to advance Kazakh-language technologies. Through initiatives such as Qolda, ISSAI continues to contribute to the development of AI technologies that support the Kazakh language, preserve linguistic diversity, and make digital services more accessible to Kazakh-speaking communities.