On October 9–10, 2026, the capital of Kyrgyzstan hosted a major OSCE Central Asia Media Conference, bringing together leading experts, government officials, civil society representatives, and media professionals from across the region. Entitled "Building Shared Reality: Information Integrity, Media Ethics and Trust in the Digital Age," this high-level forum addressed the most pressing contemporary challenges, including the transformation of information ecosystems, the impact of Big Tech, the deployment of artificial intelligence systems, and the digital safety of media workers.

The significance of this conference is profound, serving as an essential platform for building cross-border dialogue, reinforcing professional journalistic standards, and collectively shaping regional solutions amidst rapid digitalization.

Throughout the rich program of the forum, participants discussed a wide array of topics ranging from independent self-regulation standards and source protection to practical tools for AI integration in newsrooms and gender-sensitive approaches to journalists' safety. Representatives from Turkmenistan took an active part in the conference sessions, highlighting national priorities within the broader regional framework. Specifically, during discussions on implementing OSCE policy guidelines, Turkmen delegation member  emphasized the importance of a phased approach to developing the media environment—one grounded in studying international experience, expert dialogue, and adaptation to national and linguistic realities.

Key topics included digital platform transparency, the development of Turkmen-language AI models, media economic sustainability, and copyright protection in the era of AI. Additionally, Azat Seyitmuhammedov, founder of Arzuw News, shared practical insights into deploying generative artificial intelligence to optimize workflows in smaller local newsrooms.

The conference underscored that continuous multilateral dialogue among Central Asian nations and international partners, including the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, is vital for successfully navigating the technological challenges of the future.