A Kazakh lawmaker turned to artificial intelligence to fact-check official waste-recycling figures during a roundtable in the Mazhilis, prompting laughter from fellow MPs.
The discussion, held on December 9 in the lower house of parliament, focused on waste-management policy, Caliber.Az reports per Kazakh media.
Speakers claimed that Kazakhstan recycles “around 40%” of all waste generated in the country.
MP Edil Zhanbyrshin disputed the figure, saying it was incorrect. He told colleagues he had checked the data through ChatGPT and “had some comments”, a remark that drew amusement across the room.
“You are taking 40% for everything, but look at what ChatGPT tells me,” he said. “Plastic — 14% to 20% at most, and that is in advanced countries. I asked it directly: ‘Give me the recycling levels by waste type.’”
Zhanbyrshin then read out several alternative figures that the AI tool had provided.
“To say 40% across all waste streams and present one single percentage is simply wrong. It’s complete amateurism. What are you talking about? If metal has a recycling rate of around 90%, why are you putting 40%?” he asked.
Concluding his remarks, the MP advised colleagues to seek guidance from experts — or, at the very least, consult artificial intelligence.
“If you don’t want to speak to specialists or environmentalists, at least ask ChatGPT,” he said.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
