Updated Version of Akylai, the Kyrgyz-Language Voice Assistant

The updated version of Akylai, a Kyrgyz-language voice assistant developed by Kyrgyz AI Research Institute and Nineninesix.ai, was officially presented at KIT Forum 2026.

Akylai is a next-generation AI assistant capable of understanding and speaking the Kyrgyz language, enabling users to interact with technology in their native language. The project aims to accelerate the development of Kyrgyz-language digital solutions and make artificial intelligence technologies more accessible to a wider audience.

The assistant is powered by proprietary technologies in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, speech synthesis, and language technologies. One of the project's key innovations is KANI TTS, a fast and expressive text-to-speech model developed from scratch by the Nineninesix.ai team. The technology generates natural-sounding speech and has already surpassed 200,000 downloads, becoming the first AI model developed in Kyrgyzstan to reach this milestone.

The Akylai project was developed by a team of researchers and engineers from Kyrgyz AI Research Institute, including Nursultan Bakashov, Ulan Abdurazakov, Denis Pavlov, Mikhail Tuktarov, Syimyk Tologonov, Elina Aitpaeva, Arsen Almazov, Almaz Joldoshbek uulu, and other contributors.

The industrial design of the Akylai device was created by Steel Drake Studio, founded by Kyrgyz-born designer Oleg Ermakov. The studio is recognized internationally for its work in digital media, industrial design, and artificial intelligence.

The presentation of Akylai became one of the highlights of KIT Forum 2026, showcasing the growing capabilities of Kyrgyz developers in creating world-class AI solutions. The project demonstrates Kyrgyzstan’s increasing role in the development of artificial intelligence technologies and the digital transformation of the region.