LG AI Research is expanding its artificial intelligence business into Central Asia and the Middle East, targeting countries that want sovereign AI, or locally controlled artificial intelligence, but lack the technology and data to develop and commercialize models independently. In mid-September, the institute signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan’s government to jointly develop a Kazakh-language model using LG’s EXAONE technology with local companies and universities. The partnership will also cover applications in industry, energy, healthcare and logistics, along with talent development. LG AI Research plans to sign a separate memorandum next month with a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund involving EXAONE Business Intelligence, a finance-focused model that analyzes about 8,000 listed companies. Following a proof of concept in the Middle East and its addition of London Stock Exchange Group as a client in September last year, the institute plans an official regional launch. The initiative is LG AI Research’s first joint AI development or commercialization effort with non-English-speaking emerging economies and reflects demand for local languages, data sovereignty and reduced reliance on U.S. and Chinese providers.