STRATEGY FOR THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN UZBEKISTAN AND ANALYSIS OF TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Raxmatullayeva Dilnavoz Ziyodulla kizi

Tashkent State University of Economics, 

Faculty of “Digital Economy and Information Systems” 

Department of  “Information Systems and Technologies” 

ATT-76 group student.

Abstract

The reason for choosing this topic is to analyze the current state of digital transformation processes and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the research, various forms and directions of artificial intelligence, as well as its theoretical foundations, were analyzed. The main part of the article is devoted to the priority directions of the state strategy of Uzbekistan, the legislative base, and the efficiency of implementing these technologies in real sectors of the economy. As a final conclusion, the author puts forward a number of proposals for improving the national IT ecosystem and ensuring technological security.

Key words: Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030”, neural networks, cybersecurity, algorithms, biometry.

Introduction

At the stage of modern development, it has become a difficult task to imagine all aspects of human activity without artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This technology has become deeply integrated into our daily lives, successfully performing a wide range of functions, such as biometric identification (facial recognition), financial transaction analysis, and personalized recommendations based on individual consumer preferences. In the context of Uzbekistan, artificial intelligence is not just a theoretical concept, but a practical tool that is being applied to real socio-economic processes. It is worth noting that, along with the rapid evolution of SI technologies, issues of their security and legal regulation are also among the most pressing problems. The development of this industry in our country should be based not only on technological efficiency, but also on the principles of full compliance with cyber security requirements and our national values ​​and ethical (ethical) norms. The main objective of this study (article) is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the strategy for using artificial intelligence in the Republic of Uzbekistan and to provide a scientific and theoretical justification for its effectiveness in various fields. The introduction of new technologies is a priority of state policy within the framework of the Digital Uzbekistan-2030 strategy. The current era has made us not only observers of technological changes, but also direct participants in these transformative processes. Intelligent algorithms are now recognized as the main driver and driving force of economic growth.

According to forecasts from international expert agencies, by 2030, artificial intelligence is expected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy. These digital indicators require strategic and bold initiatives from every country, including Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is on the way to take its rightful place in the global competitive environment and ensure its digital sovereignty. The decisions No. PQ-4996 of 2021 and No. PQ-358 of 2024, adopted by our esteemed President, serve to strengthen the legal and institutional foundation in this regard. Our strategic goal is not just to be a consumer of ready-made technological solutions, but to have a decent export share in the artificial intelligence services market by 2030. The study analyzed innovative ideas about the ability of SI algorithms to think cognitively like humans and perform complex tasks autonomously. The integration of artificial intelligence into networks allows for the optimization of product and service quality, minimizing (reducing) errors associated with the human factor. One of our country’s long-term goals is to join the world’s top 50 leading countries by increasing the volume of artificial intelligence services to $1.5 billion. The research process prioritized the scientific analysis of complex configurations of artificial intelligence (AI) systems and the identification of promising areas for the use of these innovative solutions within the framework of a national strategy. This process identified existing barriers to the implementation of SI systems and developed analytical proposals to overcome them. It is worth noting that bringing the cognitive capabilities of AI to the level of human intelligence, that is, forming the ability of algorithms to autonomously perform complex tasks, is the main paradigm of the global technological trend.

Thematic literature analysis 

When approached from a scientific-theoretical perspective, the fundamental basis for problem solving in artificial intelligence (SI) Systems is data search (Data search) algorithms. The cognitive activity of rational agents relies on linear search and other strategic technical methods. However, analysis suggests that traditional linear algorithms significantly lose their operational efficiency under” Big Data ” (Big Data) Flow conditions, leading to excessive consumption of computational resources. This can cause critical delays (latency), especially in real-time decision-making systems such as medicine or autonomous transportation (autopilot). Strategic infrastructure and economic multiplier effect: as noted by the famous economist Klaus Schwab (The Fourth Industrial Revolution), the state strategy should not only be limited to technological transfer, but also ensure the synchronous integration of legislative, ethical and Personnel Training Systems. Investment analysis: The experience of South Korea proves that an investment of $1 in digital infrastructure brings an economic benefit (dividend) of $13 to the country’s GDP. Network effect( Network Effect): as the number of users in the system and the volume of data exchange increases, the total value and efficiency of the network increases in geometric progression. Smart City (Smart City) and logistics transformation

“Smart city” projects of South Korea can be seen on the example that traditional algorithms face the problem of “congestion” (bottleneck) when processing data coming from thousands of sensors. As a solution, optimized SI agents and data processing centers (Data-centers) perform analyses at one thousandth of a second. This allows: Dynamic traffic management, Reduced fuel consumption and environmental impact, and Maximizing logistics efficiency.

Research methodology. 

Taking into account the above, in all areas of our society, artificial intelligence is being tested and experimented with in all areas, based on the demands of today. In every economic system, whether it be in business, education, or any other field, one of the main strengths is to stay ahead of the competition by adopting and implementing technologies that they have not yet adopted. Therefore, research in this area continues consistently. 

Analysis and Results

The main obstacle identified by the study is the exponential increase in computational time (latency) as the amount of data increases. Overcoming this problem requires not only improving algorithms, but also developing a legal and ethical infrastructure. Strategic measures aimed at reducing the digital divide by 30 percent in Uzbekistan are of deterministic importance in ensuring the competitiveness of the national economy.

In the context of the modern economic paradigm, artificial intelligence (AI) has risen to the level of a strategic resource that determines the competitiveness of states in global markets, and not just a technological tool. In Uzbekistan’s national development strategy, SI is recognized as a fundamental driver that will fundamentally transform the energy and finance sectors. According to expert analysis, by 2026, Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies will show an annual growth rate of 25 percent in the global market. In the context of Uzbekistan, automating public services through intelligent chatbots can optimize (save) operational costs by up to 40 percent. “Cognitive analysis”: the symbiosis of “fast” and “slow” thoughts applying Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman’s (Thinking, Fast and Slow) theory of cognitive psychology to SI agents takes system efficiency to a new level: fast system (instinctive reaction): processing data in a moment and responding immediately to standard situations (e.g., stopping when seeing an obstacle). Slow System (Logical Analysis): Strategic planning and decision-making based on deep logical analysis in complex situations. A true “Rational Agent” should not only be limited to instinctive reactions, but also ensure the synchronous operation of both systems mentioned above.

The evolution of SI systems requires a transition from a simple command executor to the status of a “Predictive Agent”. Deloitte research shows that integrating such agents into the industry: Reduces maintenance costs by 20%, Increases production efficiency

10 percent increase.

Scientific perspectives and hypothetical modeling according to the forecasts of industry leaders such as Yann LeCun (a Path Towards Autonomous Machine Intelligence) and Demis Hassabis (the Future of AI and DeepMind’s Vision), in the future, SI agents will not only perform daily routine tasks, but also have the ability to independently formulate and verify complex scientific hypotheses. This is a strategic step towards General Artificial Intelligence (General AI).

According to the well — known theorist Stuart Russell (a Modern Approach) ‘ s vision of Cognitive Systems, a rational agent is not just a software product consisting of a strictly algorithmic sequence, but an independent cognitive unit directed to achieving optimal outcome based on data from an exogenous (external) environment.

While simple computing devices (calculators) are limited to performing deterministic mechanical operations, rational agents are characterized by analyzing dynamic reality and making adaptive decisions. The fundamental basis of Russell’s theory is described through the following three priority areas (pillars): perceptive perception of the environment (Sensorics): the Agent must interpret the external environment through various sensors, sensors and a large-scale database (Big Data). For example, in the agricultural sector, by monitoring humidity levels or monitoring real-time changes in financial market conditions, the agent determines the appropriate “trajectory of action” for the situation.

Algorithmic analysis and strategic modeling: A rational agent is not just a passive data collector, but an intellectual entity that filters them through an analytical filter. It selects the most effective scenario from millions of variations to achieve a specified goal (e.g., increasing productivity or maximizing financial profitability).

A logical extension of human cognitive capabilities: Artificial intelligence is not a replacement for humans, but rather a “cognitive extension” that expands their intellectual potential. In a situation where the human brain is not capable of simultaneously controlling trillions of transactions, AI systems act as a perfect tool for providing ready-made analytical solutions. 

“Digital Uzbekistan – 2030” and Institutional Transformation.

Russell’s theoretical concepts (Logical Atomism) scientifically substantiate the economic drivers in the Republic of Uzbekistan’s strategy for transition to a digital economy. The systemic approach shows that the strategic directions, technological classification, and agent mechanism within the Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 program form a holistic execution chain. The integration of this trio is a key factor in ensuring a sustainable transition to an innovative economy. 

Cognitive Architecture and Future Predictions.

In the evolution of artificial intelligence agents, Daniel Kahneman’s (Thinking, Fast and Slow) theory of cognitive systems plays an important role:

System 1 (Rapid and instinctive): Rapidly receiving information and responding to a primary signal.

System 2 (Deep and Analytical): The ability to predict future anomalies and strategic planning by algorithms. The concept of “General Artificial Intelligence” (AGI), proposed by scientists such as Yann LeCun and Demis Hassabis, is based on the symbiosis of these systems. SI technologies will provide a “second wind” in the modernization of energy and agriculture. According to Klaus Schwab’s theory (The Fourth Industrial Revolution), the strength of the infrastructural foundation directly depends on the degree of integration of intellectual agents into networks. Within the framework of these global trends, Uzbekistan’s performance in the Global AI Readiness Index is a testament to the country’s bold steps towards digital sovereignty.Our country has risen 25 places since 2023, ranking 62nd in 2025 and becoming the absolute leader in Central Asia. We see that these successes are backed by clear investments, with $50 million allocated to purchase 16 supercomputers in 2025. Currently, more than 30 pilot projects have been successfully launched, and it is planned to increase their number to 100 in the future. The issue of personnel has also not been ignored – the number of residents of the IT park has exceeded 3,300, and quotas for artificial intelligence in higher education have been expanded by 35 percent. It can be said that the core of Uzbekistan’s strategy relies on the principle of data-Driven Approach (Data-Driven Approach). It is not just working with numbers, but rather concentrating all government agency data on a single “Data-lake” (data lake) system and ensuring their quality (Cleaning and Pre-processing). An Agile (flexible) approach to project implementation has been chosen. The process is first checked in “Sandbox” (test area) mode in small areas and, once the effectiveness is proven, spreads throughout the Republic scale (Scaling). The most important thing is that we have the principle of “man in the center” (Human-Centric AI) as a priority. This methodology sees artificial intelligence as an instrument that expands a person’s capabilities rather than a substitute force. In this case, the objectivity of the algorithms (bias-free) and compliance with ethical norms are strictly controlled. There is also a special emphasis on training not only programmers, but also doctors and teachers who can work with artificial intelligence. Predictive analysis (Predictive Analytics) and hybrid techniques are widely used, as stated in the asosic scientific part of the strategy. By clustering the social needs of the population, a system of providing targeted assistance is being established. Uzbekistan has carefully studied the UAE’s ministry-level experience in artificial intelligence, South Korea’s industrial automation methodology, and Estonia’s digital identification systems in determining its own path. Ultimately, the effectiveness of a strategy is measured by specific KPI indicators: the economic return on investment (ROI) of each dollar invested and social factors such as reduced public service delivery times serve as key criteria. Uzbekistan’s digital transformation process relies on a massive flow of data from various government agencies. However, a major technical obstacle is that data from the statistics, tax, or healthcare sectors have different units of measurement. For example, population (in millions) and gross domestic product (in trillions) cannot be directly compared. Therefore, the strategy uses the Z-score standardization method. This method scales all indicators to a single scale, preventing algorithms from over-emphasizing (bias) a particular indicator. The four main steps that form the basis of the methodology can be analyzed as follows:

1. Bayesian Probability: The “Smart” Updating System, the “Smart Management” section of the strategy, uses a probability analysis (Probabilistic Reasoning) method based on Bayes’ theorem. The unique feature of this method is that it updates initial assumptions in real time as new evidence emerges. For example, in agriculture, the expected yield factor is recalculated as soon as new information regarding weather changes arrives. This allows the system to always make the most pressing decision in changing conditions. 

2. Measuring model accuracy: To minimize error, the quality of any prediction model is measured by how close it is to the true outcome. The Mean Squared Error (MSE) method is used for this. Our main methodological requirement is to reduce the difference between the prediction given by the model and the result in real life to a minimum (around 5-10%). Only then can you confidently talk about economic efficiency. 

3. Regression and Optimization: Linear and nonlinear regression models are used to search for dependencies and find hidden relationships between socioeconomic indicators. In this, the most accurate mathematical model of the country’s development is formed by optimizing special coefficients (weight and deviation). This gives us the idea that “what little change in a sector has the greatest positive impact on the economy?”to help find the answer.

4. Strategic Monitoring and KPIs: Measuring the result, the methodology forms a complete chain: from data preparation to statistical analysis of the result. The focus is on indicators such as the government’s SI preparation index and the return on investment (ROI) of the investments made. In conclusion, this methodological chain proves that artificial intelligence is not just an abstract technology, but a practical management tool based on concrete numbers and measurable results.

Linear and nonlinear regression models were used in the study to identify hidden, multi-factor relationships between socio-economic indicators. This econometric apparatus makes it possible to formulate a clear mathematical model of the country’s development by optimizing weight coefficients and deviation parameters. This methodological approach is based on the question ” which minimum positive change in the economic segment will have a multiplicative effect at the macroeconomic level?”provides a scientifically based answer to the strategic question. Strategic Monitoring and Investment Return on Investment (ROI) The established methodological chain covers the entire cycle, from the initial data preparation to the statistical verification of the final results. The main focus is on the following indicators: Preparatory Index for SI: The level of compliance of the institutional and technological infrastructure. Return on Investment (ROI): The economic efficiency ratio of the invested capital. In conclusion, this system proves that artificial intelligence is not an abstract concept, but a practical management tool based on specific digital indicators. Exponential Development Trajectory of the Global AI Market

The results of econometric modeling show that the dynamics of the global artificial intelligence market are exponential rather than linear. Critical point (Tipping Point): 2025 will serve as a “sharp turning point” for the global SI market. Forecast indicators: in 2020, the market volume was about US $ 50 billion, while by 2030 this figure is projected to grow more than 17 times and reach $ 850 billion.

Analysis and results.

Analysis of the domestic market of Uzbekistan shows the following specialization landscape in the application of SI types: NLP (natural language processing) – 35%: occupies a leading position in the public services and banking sector as a result of high demand for intellectual systems of the Uzbek language. Computer Vision – computer vision) – 25%: widely used in security systems and monitoring processes. Predictive analysis (Predictive Analytics) – 20%: is actively applied in the fields of Fintex and economic forecasting.

Within these indicators, the 60 percent growth in the Public Services segment is the result of the minimization of bureaucratic processes and the automation of decision-making mechanisms. This confirms how realistic the strategic target of reaching $1.5 billion in SI product sales by 2030 is.

Conclusions and recommendations.

The analysis carried out shows that the SI strategy, designed before 2030, serves as the most fundamental determinant (determining) factor in the digitization of the country’s economy. At this stage, the 35% share of NLP technologies confirms the need for models based on national languages. The establishment of supercomputers and data centers is a solid foundation for ensuring Uzbekistan’s global competitiveness. Scientific analysis of complex types of artificial intelligence and their effective application within the framework of our national strategy will guarantee systematic growth in all sectors of the economy. Artificial intelligence will serve as a deterministic factor in increasing productivity in all sectors. However, in order to minimize the risk of technological errors, the system must be constantly verified and under human control.

List Of Literature Used

1. https://ibb.co/yc1WCn0d   “Promising Tasks”.

2. https://ibb.co/tT2vNp3Z “predictive Agent (Predictive Agent) concept”.

3. https://ibb.co/v496wZrk “Fundamental of Russell’s theory”.

4. hujjat24.uz

5. hujjat24.uz

1.1Klaus Schwab “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” (The Fourth Industrial Revolution).

2.1.Daniel Kahneman “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

3.1.LeCun, Y. “A Path Towards Autonomous Machine Intelligence”. OpenReview.

4.1.Hassabis, D. (2023). “The Future of AI and DeepMind’s Vision”. Google DeepMind Blog.

5.1Russell, S. J., & Norvig, P. (2021). Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson (4th Edition). [World-class basic textbook on AI].

6.”On measures to create conditions for the rapid introduction of artificial intelligence technologies.” Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, No. PQ-4996, dated 17.02.2021.

7.Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PQ-358 dated October 14, 2024 “On Approval of the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030”

8. Decree No. PF-6079 on the approval of the Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 strategy and measures for its effective implementation.

A Garden of Memory

Morning comes

without her.

No song from the kitchen,

no sound of the kettle

only the garden,

wild with weeds,

waiting.

The roses bow

beneath their own weight.

I follow her path

through the wet grass,

placing my feet

where hers have been,

and the earth gives back

the weight of her footstep,

still there.

Her brass thimble

lies beside the sewing chair,

the threads she never finished

like tangled questions

I never had the chance

to ask.

A photograph she kept hidden

folded twice,

tucked behind her Bible

her younger self in another dress,

before the revolution

came looking for her.

When they came to question her,

she was in the garden.

She did not hurry inside.

She wiped her hands on her apron,

placed seeds in my palm

warm, unhurried

and walked toward the door

as if she had been

waiting for them for years.

“They can take the streets.”

I remember this, later

by the window,

watching them go.

When I was afraid,

she called me

“my little seed.”

Now I light a candle

in the room where she slept.

The flame trembles

small and steady

like her voice

calling my name

after everyone had gone.

Spring will come.

The roses will bloom again.

And somewhere in the turning

of the earth,

in the stubborn mint

that returns every time

where no one planted it

I place my hand in the soil

and know where to go.

Review: Olympia Books to Prisoners minizines

Reviewed by A. Iwasa

Books to prisoner programs seek to offset the dehumanizing effects of mass incarceration by sending free literature to people inprisoned across the United States.  Oly BtP also engages in distributing literature on the outside to spread the word about what they do and why.

Tandem Reading Book Recs for Abolition

by Natasha Giblin, Oly BtP collective member

Tandem reading as described by Giblin “is reading two or more books at the same time, that focus on the same topic.”

In this ‘zine, Giblin presents book blurb style reviews for two books at a time, one fictional, the other non-, then provides another blurn to connect the books thematically.  The prison industrial complex, child welfare system and women prisoners’ experiences are the topics covered.

Mass Incarceration:  What do you really know about it?

by Jasper Llee, Oly BtP collective member

Similarly, Llee created a short reading list with blurbs for six different books about the prison industrial complex, though this time all six and non-fiction.

Let’s Talk Prisons…

by Anna Champagne, Oly BtP

This ‘zine is more of an introduction, a look at what’s wrong with the prison system in the US in the first place.

http://www.olympiabtp.org

Waves of Tears

Sometimes, tears come
The way the waves of the tide
Crash upon the shore of the sea.

From the chest,
Through the head—
They crash upon the eyes.

From the feet to the sky,
Water surges everywhere,
Overflowing without end.

Upon the breast
Of the waterless world,
The waves of the tears
Leave behind some unknown mark.

They wash away
All the sorrow and pain,
All the hurt and resentment,
All the wounds and blows.

Everything is washed away.

The world appears a little brighter,
A little clearer.

Unknowingly,
Pure air settles upon the body,
And some tender, cooling touch
Seems to brush against me.

Within such a Jalsa hall,
A sudden stirring—
Could it ever bloom
As a flower upon a lotus leaf?

The cry of a heart torn open
Rolls across heaven and earth —

Waves play on,
waves play on,
waves play on.

Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh

16 September, 2026.

Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.

Once when he was in grade ten in 1990, his Bangla letter was selected as the best one from Deutsche Welle, Germany Radio that broadcast Bangla news for the Banglalee people. And he was given 50 Dutch Mark as his award. They would ask letters from the listeners to the news in Bangla and select one letter for the best one in every month.     

From 17 to 30 September, in 2018 he received a higher training in teaching English language in Kasetsart University of Thailand for secondary level students through a government order from education ministry. 

On 06 November 2015 he achieved Amjad Ali Mondal Medal for his contribution in education field by a development organization in the conference and felicitation function for the honorable personalities at Rajshahi College Auditorium. 

On 30 December 2017 from West Bengal in India he was declared a ‘Literary Charioteer’ in Bangobandhu Literary and World Bango Conference and they awarded him with a Gold Medal in their International Literary Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony.

In 2018, he achieved Prodipto Lirerary Award in Prodipto Literary Conference at Kesorhat, Rajshahi for poems in Bangla literature. He received honorary crest from the administration of Chapainawabganj District Literary Conference and Cultural Function in 2021 and 2022 consecutively. 

His poems have been published in many international online magazines such as Juntos Por las L Raven Cage Zine, and Area Felix.  His poems have been translated and published in Argentine and Serbian, and he participated in many international online cultural meetings. 

Little angels of divine

Mother-of-pearl Transformed into love, art, and tenderness, he strove to mold his little angels, yet his partner—scornful of sculpture— preferred to sate their appetites instead. 

And amidst endeavors scattered by the wind, and self-centered banners serving as mottos, art was dissuaded from the attempt to weigh the dilemmas of being and non-being. 

Thus, yearnings dissolved into the mist, into a lost dream that fades away, into a mold shaped solely by pleasure.

 And those little angels of divine mother-of-pearl, absent, could not witness the destiny of their wings, which still hang waiting to be born.

Delsa López Lorenzo. Cuba. Retired from the Credit and Commerce Bank of Yaguajay. Poet and storyteller; she writes for both children and adults. She serves as the Cuban director of the magazine América sin Fronteras (America Without Borders), founded in Mexico by Dr. José Ángel Ramírez. She has been accredited as an Ambassador of Peace by humanist organizations and was honored as a “Distinguished Woman” in the Mujeres Ilustres (Distinguished Women) program of Sancti Spíritus province, hosted by Saylí Alba Álvarez.

She has served as a juror for both in-person municipal events and online international events. She is an accredited member of the Mother Tongue Chair at the Simón Bolívar Municipal University Center (CUM). In Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, she hosts various ongoing cultural programs sponsored by the Raúl Ferrer Promotion Center. These include Poesía para la vida (Poetry for Life), the Bernardo Amador Yunes Literary Workshop, and special programs serving the elderly, prison inmates, pregnant women, children with special needs, primary and secondary school students, and children in daycare centers, as well as workshops on décima poetry and repentismo (improvisational verse).

Her work has been included in anthologies across Europe, Latin America, the United States, Cuba, Spain, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, and other countries. She has won numerous awards in Cuba and abroad and has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and radio and television programs both in her home country and internationally. Her publications include the poetry collection for adults Réquiem para un amor (Mexico); the children’s and young adult storybook Paraíso de mascotas (Cuba); and the children’s books Juan Pirindingo y otros cuentos and Saltarina y el maja rastrero (United States). Her poetry collection for adults, Clamores de un hacedor de versos, is currently being edited for publication in Cuba.

Picnic by Moonlight and Mangoes

Jacques Fleury

[Excerpt from Fleury’s Boston Globe featured poetry book Sparks in the Dark: A Lighter Shade of Blue, 

A Poetic Memoir archived permanently at the University of Massachusetts’s Healey Research Library]

 The night is like a whimper whistling

       sweet sounds of the Caribbean dawning

         tense taunted memories supple coconut leaves

  longing rustling uneasily singing their hissing history

    The moon smiling a single icy eye under warm Caribbean skies watching dancing fireflies

     Against the starry sky staring soundly shining as if

     waiting for a shindig for brave night birds to fly sound is silenced noise needs defiance

    fall leaves layer upon layer interwoven to make a motley leafy magenta blanket above the               

      dirt you walk in like a frumpy flirt picnic basket brimming in big Haitian hands

          singing a tune like you in a calypso band

            bruised burnished back against the moon I emerge like a boasting butterfly from the cocoon

   to see your gesture jesting me than you kneel dumb down by me leaning closer learning me

   you placed your lips perched planting a putrid punch-drunk kiss upon me

   I could smell your taste like garnished waste tepid against my lucid lanky cheeks

     Cheeks as daunting and dazzling as the moon itself than I bury my bumbling quivering hands

   Into your buxom basket winced and wrench out a near perfect pound of reddish round mango treat 

“go ahead, bite me!” 

      I hear it sing your beat jesting me testing me vesting me

        I look up as if to say to see your burning eyes beaming looking back at me like the moon mauled against 

   the aching sky you see still staring back at me as if crouching to flee I tilt my head 

   hanging to the right then I tilt my head hanging to the left

watching your blood bleeding red swollen mango beauty erected!

 basking in your basket black memory detected than most carefully 

   I slant tauntingly toward this your gallant gaudy fruit

    rowdy rueful having lost its roots perch and peck

      my lips than sank my bucking beak beneath the stuffy skin your juicy fruit dangling drooling    

      down my chin than I lay my back buried down wincing waiting quietly to hear your 

   queer croaking rooster sound staring happily into the glare of sensual satiable 

   Caribbean skies while watching fireflies stock full of colonial flare flying hovering 

   tired hanging onto the tarry air autumn stifled squirming to breath beneath heavy hung Haitian thighs

    You could almost hear its sweaty seethe that I should sing release all Haitian flies!

    Oppression deflates exhausted satisfaction sighs…finally anxious desire daring to escape

    You’ll find it squandered and spent along the cape then laying back secretly satiated under this tree your ruby red 

           mangoes falling like loads of glory! raining down on me like a fetish fantasy

           And for a second forgetting my wanton woe laying low under your shadow’s fro

           Ooooh yes you please me like a pro! i say islander scavenger

        feed me your juicy mango    flow

                As I lay back to bask while your

                                   wise fluid moon glow    sow…–

Jacques Fleury is a Haitian American poet, novelist, educator, essayist, arts critic, author, and Harvard University literary arts scholar whose internationally published voice spans continents. The recipient of the 2026 International Naji Naaman Literary Prize for Creativity—chosen from over 4100 global competitors from 83 countries—he holds prestigious memberships in France’s La Fenêtre de Paris and Lebanon’s Maison Naaman pour la Culture. His celebrated books, among them his opus Chain Letter To America: The One Thing You Can Do To End Racism… is held globally from Massachusetts libraries to the UK’s Askews and Holts, and historic sanctuaries like the Harvard Bookstore & Grolier Poetry Book Shop. Discover more of his Boston Globe-featured work at Authorsden/JacquesFleury.

When Laughter Reveals the Truth: Reading The Miller’s Tale

A Book Review by Raida Jirjees

Book: The Canterbury Tales

Author: Geoffrey Chaucer

Translator: Nevill Coghill

Edition: Penguin Classics

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Publication Year: 2003

Pages: 528

ISBN: 9780140424386

There are books we approach because their reputation precedes them, and others that remain alive because they continue to recognise something in us. The Canterbury Tales belongs to both.

What draws me to Chaucer’s work is its extraordinary gathering of human voices. Pilgrims of different professions, social positions, desires, virtues, and weaknesses travel together and tell stories. Through this simple framework, the road to Canterbury becomes a road through human nature itself.

Among those voices, the Miller’s is impossible to ignore.

His tale does not enter politely.

It arrives laughing.

And behind that laughter, it watches us.

Chaucer and the Human Comedy

Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the defining voices of medieval English literature, possessed a remarkable ability to observe human contradiction. His humour can be ironic, playful, earthy, and deliberately crude, yet beneath it lies an understanding of vanity, desire, fear, and weakness.

The Miller’s Tale is a striking example.

John, an older carpenter, is married to the young Alison. Nicholas, a clever student, desires her, while Absolon pursues her with theatrical romantic devotion. Desire, jealousy, deception, and revenge soon turn their lives into farce.

Each character enters the tale carrying an illusion.

Chaucer gradually turns those illusions against them.

Intelligence, Fear, and Desire

Nicholas believes intelligence gives him control. Educated and resourceful, he uses his knowledge to manipulate John, convincing him that another catastrophic flood is coming.

But Chaucer does not allow the clever man to remain safely above the joke.

The deceiver eventually becomes part of it.

John is jealous and possessive, but he is also afraid. Nicholas succeeds because his lie speaks directly to that fear. There is something timeless here: we do not always believe what is most reasonable; sometimes we believe what most effectively confirms what we already fear.

Alison, meanwhile, is not merely a passive object of male desire. She participates in the deception and exercises her own will, though Chaucer does not turn her into a moral heroine. Like the others, she belongs to a world where desire repeatedly outruns responsibility.

Absolon offers another kind of illusion. He performs the role of the refined lover through appearance, song, and courtship, only to have his romantic self-image transformed into humiliation.

Here lies one of the tale’s sharpest contrasts:

the language of romance exists beside the physical reality of desire.

Why Does Chaucer Make Us Laugh?

Laughter in The Miller’s Tale does more than entertain. It strips away appearances.

Education does not guarantee wisdom. Age does not guarantee judgment. Romantic language does not guarantee love. Cleverness does not guarantee escape from humiliation.

Everyone believes, for a moment, that someone else is the fool.

Eventually, almost everyone becomes one.

Nicholas is educated but manipulative. John has experience but lacks discernment. Absolon has polish but little self-awareness. Alison understands the game but cannot stand outside its consequences.

Each character knows something.

None understands enough.

That distinction feels remarkably modern.

The costumes change.

Human vanity does not.

Reading Chaucer Today

A contemporary reader may find the tale’s bawdy humour excessive or uncomfortable, but its earthiness has a purpose. Chaucer deliberately sets the physical body against idealised notions of romance.

Modern readers may also question its treatment of marriage, gender, age, consent, and power, particularly Alison’s position as a young woman married to an older, jealous husband.

Such questions do not weaken a classic. They keep our conversation with it alive.

The Miller After the Knight

The position of The Miller’s Tale after The Knight’s Tale makes its comedy even sharper.

The Knight gives us chivalry, honour, ceremony, and elevated love. The Miller answers with bodies, tricks, adultery, and laughter.

One raises love toward the heavens.

The other pulls it into the bedroom.

Yet both ask whether human beings truly understand what they call love.

Final Assessment

I no longer see The Miller’s Tale simply as a collection of medieval jokes. I see laughter being used as a mirror.

Its comedy exposes weaknesses that time has not erased: vanity, jealousy, self-deception, desire, and misplaced confidence.

For the modern reader, the tale is also a reminder that a classic need not be solemn to be profound. Literature can reveal human nature through tragedy and beauty—but also through absurdity and an indecent joke.

Perhaps this is Chaucer’s quiet achievement.

He lets us laugh at his foolish characters long enough to realise that some part of their foolishness may belong to us as well.

And that is when the joke becomes literature.