Artificial Intelligence, language, and education: The 18-year-old presidential translator in Slovenia

Where in the world is there no trace of Uzbeks? Be it in America, Europe, Africa, or Australia — Uzbeks have left their mark everywhere. While many are known as labor migrants, countless others thrive as doctors, entrepreneurs, programmers, and specialists in various fields. Even in Slovenia, young Uzbeks are not only embracing new cultures but also speaking to presidents in their native language and championing ambitious projects.

One such remarkable young figure is Shahriyor Is’haqov, an 18-year-old student making headlines abroad.

Born in Tashkent in 2007 to a family of doctors, Shahriyor was admitted in 2024 to one of Slovenia’s most prestigious and oldest universities — the University of Ljubljana. He is currently pursuing a degree in artificial intelligence and is involved in a number of innovative research initiatives.

Back in Uzbekistan, Shahriyor and his friend Yusuf launched an English-language video project to showcase the country’s culture. This creative initiative later received support from the Youth Affairs Agency and paved the way for new opportunities and ideas.

Having scored 7.0 on the IELTS and 1350 on the SAT, Shahriyor shares why he chose Slovenia for his higher education:

“I am very interested in artificial intelligence and computer technologies. My grandfather recommended Slovenia because it ranks among the top ten countries in Europe in this field. Later, after speaking with professors at the University of Ljubljana, I was convinced that this was the right path for me.”

According to Shahriyor, the university hosts numerous AI-focused labs engaged in real-world projects — from developing AI tools to teach Slovenian to detecting Alzheimer’s symptoms in children. He hopes to replicate such laboratories in Uzbekistan in the future:

“I believe artificial intelligence has immense potential. It can be applied in medicine, law, IT, and many other fields.”

Shahriyor’s accomplishments extend beyond the classroom. On May 22, 2025, he served as an interpreter for the presidents of Slovenia and Uzbekistan during the Slovenia-Uzbekistan Business Forum. Remarkably, he had mastered the Slovenian language within just six months of arriving in the country:

 “Slovenian is not an easy language. But I told myself that I had to learn it — to meet people, communicate with professors. People often fear making mistakes while learning a language, but even when I stumbled, I kept speaking. Knowing the local language earns you respect. And at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenian lessons are offered free to foreigners.”

This linguistic ability enabled him to converse with presidents, present his ideas, and serve as a translator at a high-level diplomatic event. He recalls the experience vividly:

 “On May 22, I was invited to the Slovenia-Uzbekistan Business Forum as an interpreter. I spoke with the presidents, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev and Slovenia’s Natasha Pirc Musar. Our President spoke about the vast opportunities being created for youth, which deeply inspired me. My dream is to help advance artificial intelligence in Uzbekistan.”

You can watch the full interview in the video player above or on the QALAMPIR.UZ YouTube channel.