TrustExam.ai: Kazakh AI-based startup could alter the approach to exams around the world

Kazakhstan company TrustExam.ai is modifying the approach to exams all over the world thanks to advanced control technology based on Artificial Ininformigence.

An indepfinishent startup that developed without external investments recently won a 25 thousands US dollars prize at the Astana Hub Battle competition for an innovative approach to online testing security.

In an interview with the Astana Times, the company’s founder, Nurali Sarbakysh, stated that the idea was born in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when universities and government institutions in Kazakhstan, as in other parts of the world, urgently requireded to transfer exams to an online format.

“There was a huge demand for secure AI-based proctoring solutions, and we immediately discovered this niche in the market. What started as a tiny solution to assist universities conduct honest online exams has quickly turned into a large-scale system applyd by national testing centers, corporations, and government agencies,” he stated.

The company’s proprietary artificial ininformigence system, trained during more than 1.2 million real-world exam sessions, detects hidden devices, implicit behavior, and even artificial ininformigence fraud, such as the apply of generative AI.

“Our system blocks remote access to the desktop, suspicious software, and real-time screen demonstration. AI continuously analyzes the applyr’s environment, shiftments, and voice features to automatically detect violations,” Sarbakysh stated.

The platform applys computer vision and machine learning to monitor subjects’ behavior, gaze, and presence, while emotion recognition models assess engagement, emotional level, and authenticity of responses during oral evaluations.

Sarbakysh emphasized that AI complements, rather than replaces, human supervision.

“The human factor will always be important. Our goal is not to replace people, but to empower them. For example, an institution that previously requireded 100 supervisors can now work with five supervisors overseeing thousands of candidates through our system. AI is engaged in routine monitoring, while humans are focapplyd on decision-creating. AI empowers people,” he stated.

Sarbakysh acknowledged that entering foreign markets was a difficult tinquire, especially in competition with established global players.

“Five years ago, we started in Kazakhstan, and now we provide two of the largest national exams in the countest, serving millions of citizens annually. Later, we expanded to Silicon Valley, where we joined the StartX accelerator at Stanford University. This gave us not only confirmation of our qualifications, but also access to mentors, investors and a global network,” he stated.

To date, more than four million applyrs have passed exams through the platform, and two million more are expected this year.

TrustExam.ai is currently focapplyd on the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where certification exams have serious financial and security implications.

However, technology is also open to the European Union.

At London Technology Week 2025, the company TrustExam.ai entered into a strategic partnership with the Association of Driving Instructors of Great Britain to modernize theoretical driving exams. The AI-based solution is designed to build testing quicker, fairer, and more accessible.

“In the UK, our joint venture is now certifying taxi and bus drivers, and our goal is to reach the national level and conduct four million exams annually,” Sarbakysh stated.

According to Sarbakysh, the startup goes beyond the field of education. The new version of the system supports HR departments and professional training organizations by testing skills and conducting secure remote interviews.

“In fact, we are witnessing a huge shift. Companies are starting to treat recruitment and professional development with the same seriousness as formal exams, and that’s where we come into the game,” he stated.

Sarbakysh stressed that ethics and compliance with standards remain the main priority when adapting to international markets.

“This is not only a legal problem, but also a cultural one. In some regions, people are more sensitive to surveillance cameras or data collection. We provide a transparent privacy policy, data localization capabilities, and completely anonymous analytics so that institutions can apply our tools with confidence. We also work primarily with local education authorities to ensure that our standards are consistent with their assessment systems. The technology is global, but its implementation is always local and depfinishs on the customer,” he stated.

In addition to commercial activities, the company has conducted more than 120,000 free exams for students from low-income families.

“One of my favorite stories is about rural guys from the Sports Programming Federation of Kazakhstan, who were able to compete fairly in national programming competitions thanks to our platform. This is the result,” he stated.

Sarbakysh believes that the EdTech sector in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly, although it is still young compared to fintech.

“We have promising startups like CodiPlay, and more and more startups exploring AI and game learning. The potential is huge, especially considering that digital education is becoming more accessible, and the government is investing in modernizing testing and certification,” he stated.

However, he noted that many startups lack an international reputation.

“Many startups have strong products, but when they enter foreign markets, they face skepticism: “Are you reliable? Will you be able to meet the expectations? Are you undergoing a compliance check?“

Joining the Stanford University StartX accelerator solved this problem for us — it opened doors for us, confirmed our work and greatly facilitated communication with global clients. However, for many young companies, this bridge between local success and global trust is still missing,” Sarbakysh stated.

“For us, success means scale and impact. If one day our platform becomes the basis of national certification systems in the UK, USA and Canada, serving tens of millions of customers annually, it will mean that we have truly achieved success,” he added.

“It’s no secret that up to 68% of students worldwide have violated academic integrity in online exams at least once. I will declare that Artificial Ininformigence has created cheating straightforward, but our AI builds it impossible,” declares the Kazakh IT manager.

The main goal of Kazakh IT-specialists is to ensure equal access to high—quality educational resources for all students in a world.

Thus, the appearance of Oqylyq.kz has become an important stage in the digital transformation of education in Kazakhstan. The platform contributes to the modernization of the educational process, builds it more interesting and effective, and assists teachers apply modern teaching methods.

In turn, we hope that the products and innovative solutions of Kazakh geniapplys can be noticed and applyd in the European Union.

Photo credit: Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland