On May 2, the Ministry of Digital Technologies held an award ceremony in Tashkent for nearly a thousand winners of the 'National Competition' under the 'Five Million AI Leaders' project. The project was launched in November 2025 on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as a logical continuation of the 'One Million Uzbek Programmers' project.

Winners were determined based on their activity on the aileaders.uz website. Participants registered on the platform, chose one of over 3,000 courses in Uzbek consisting of four modules, and studied online. At the end of each course, they took a test, and those who passed received a certificate.

In the 'Most Active Higher Education Institution' category, Tashkent University of Information Technologies received 100 million soums, Bukhara State Technical University 50 million soums, and Bukhara State University 25 million soums. Winners were also awarded in categories such as 'Most Active Participant', 'Most Active Computer Science Teacher', and 'Most Active School'.

Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov noted the project's growing popularity. Last year, over 640,000 people participated in the 'One Million Programmers' and 'Five Million AI Leaders' projects and received certificates. According to the minister, the president set the task of becoming not just users of AI but creators.

Rector of TUIT Bakhtiyor Makhmamov emphasized that the project motivates students and that the victory was the result of hard work by teachers and students. Zilola Hotamova, director of School No. 13 in Zarafshan, expressed pride in winning the 'Most Active School' category.

Akbarali Yusupov, a computer science teacher at School No. 7 in Yangikurgan district who has been teaching since 1993, received a travel voucher for a foreign trip. He expressed a desire to visit the US and South Korea to gain experience.

Source: www.gazeta.uz