Uzbekistan introduces ethical guidelines for AI use

The rules will officially enter into force on June 17, 2026.

The approved document establishes key ethical and safety requirements for participants involved in the creation and application of artificial intelligence technologies and systems.

According to the ministry, the guidelines aim to ensure the safe use of AI-based systems while protecting human rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests.

All organizations and specialists working with artificial intelligence technologies will be required to strictly comply with the newly established rules.

The framework outlines several core principles that must guide the development and use of AI technologies. These include:

• legality;
• priority of protecting the interests of individuals, society, the state, and the environment;
• clarity and explainability;
• responsibility, accountability, and oversight;
• fairness and non-discrimination;
• openness and transparency;
• data protection;
• reliability and security.

Under the reliability and security principle, artificial intelligence systems must operate consistently and accurately, with the probability of errors minimized and all data entered into the systems securely protected.

The guidelines also specify restrictions on relying solely on artificial intelligence in sensitive areas.

In particular, decisions of legal significance that affect human rights and freedoms, as well as decisions in fields such as healthcare, including disease diagnosis and treatment planning, should not be based exclusively on conclusions generated by AI systems.

Human oversight and review must remain an essential part of decision-making processes in such cases.

Developers and implementers of artificial intelligence technologies are granted several rights under the new framework. These include the right to develop and introduce AI systems in accordance with the ethical guidelines, protect intellectual property rights related to their technologies in line with national legislation, and propose improvements to the ethical framework.

At the same time, developers and operators are required to comply with a number of obligations. Among them are:

• ensuring compliance with the ethical rules;
• maintaining transparency and explainability of algorithms;
• preventing potential bias in AI systems;
• protecting personal data and restricted information;
• providing clear information about the capabilities, limitations, and potential risks of AI technologies;
• informing users about proper and prohibited uses of AI systems;
• ensuring software security of AI technologies;
• continuously improving AI systems while taking the ethical guidelines into account;
• guaranteeing human oversight and ensuring that final decisions are made by people;
• preventing the use of AI technologies for illegal purposes or actions that could harm individuals, society, the state, or the environment;
• preparing and publishing user guidelines for AI systems.

The document also notes that developers and operators of artificial intelligence technologies may have additional rights and obligations as defined by national legislation.