Experts from Yandex Qazaqstan conducted an engaging workshop for students at the AlmaU University in Almaty, focusing on the transformative effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on search engines and information retrieval. This workshop is part of Yandex Qazaqstan's broader initiative to educate and empower students through practical master classes on AI, which began last October.
During the session, Yandex specialists discussed the significant challenges faced by AI technologies, particularly when processing the Kazakh language, along with the innovative tools being developed to help users efficiently find information. This educational series addresses the growing interest among students and aims to leverage AI's potential to improve learning outcomes.
Ulan Kairbekov, the Director of Yandex Search development in Kazakhstan, stated, "Search is one of the largest whales in the company's entire ecosystem," emphasizing the importance of this technology within the Yandex portfolio. He elaborated on how user behavior has changed dramatically over the past 25 years—from lengthy, polite inquiries to more concise and direct requests as users adapt to the capabilities of AI.
Today's search systems leverage sophisticated algorithms to analyze user intent, marking a departure from traditional search methods. "If we rewind 25 years, users made very detailed and polite requests. Now, queries are shorter and more precise. Voice search and AI-driven responses are on the rise, and since late 2022, we've seen explosive growth in large language models (LLMs) altering interaction with search engines," said Kairbekov.
One of the cornerstones of Yandex Qazaqstan's AI development is its "Neuro" service. This platform employs neural networks to analyze user requests and produce accurate, sourced answers much faster than traditional search methods. Users can engage with this service using either Kazakh or Russian, significantly reducing the time spent locating necessary information.
Before the implementation of "Neuro," students had to scour multiple websites for essay examples and verify the credibility of their sources, often wasting hours. Now, they can enter their queries directly and receive structured information with relevant links for more detailed exploration. "Neuro won't write your coursework for you, but it can provide direction and suggest the most pertinent sources you need to explore," noted Saltanat Bolatbekova, the leading product manager for Yandex Search.
The launch of "Neuro" has proven successful, with the service's request volume increasing by 49% since its introduction last autumn and the user base growing by 62%. Users reportedly save up to 30 minutes daily through the efficiency afforded by utilizing this neural network.
Despite the successes, Bolatbekova highlighted some challenges unique to developing AI solutions for the Kazakh language. "For training the model, we need vast amounts of text data, but certain topics lack quality content available publicly. We've encountered hurdles, especially with scientific and educational data predominantly accessible only in English," she explained.
Yandex has dedicated significant resources to address these concerns, employing bilingual trainers to help train the models for optimal performance. Bolatbekova added, "Neuro can respond natively to queries posed in Kazakh, even when the input source documents are written in other languages. It's about ensuring the AI comprehends and appropriately replies to user inquiries."
Another point raised during the workshop was the complexity of the Kazakh language, rich with homonyms—words whose meanings vary with different contexts. This feature poses additional challenges for AI, prompting Yandex experts to conduct manual tagging of requests to train the model effectively. This enables the technology to differentiate educational queries from others, such as product searches or general inquiries.
The workshop not only provided students with insights but also engaged them actively. To boost participation, prizes were awarded for the best questions, including smart speakers— "Station Light 2" equipped with the virtual assistant Alice.
"We see huge interest in new technologies, especially among the youth. The Kazakhstan market is rapidly developing, and our mission is to make AI-driven solutions accessible and beneficial to everyone," Kairbekov concluded, reinforcing Yandex's commitment to fostering technological advancement and educational outreach among Kazakhstan's younger generation.