Kazakhstan Advances Toward Becoming a Regional AI Hub

Kazakhstan is making artificial intelligence a national priority in its quest to become a regional hub, implementing wide-ranging digitalization efforts spanning sovereign fund management to local language models.

AI Program in Governance

A new artificial intelligence program with voting rights has assumed duties at the board meeting of the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund.

Named SKAI, this program was integrated into the company's board of directors with the aim of ensuring greater transparency and better governance.

Digitalization and Legal Regulations

By a presidential decree, 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, while a new ministry has been established within the government.

Kazakhstan holds the position of the second country after the European Union to adopt legislation regulating artificial intelligence.

Education and Technology Hubs

While artificial intelligence training for children and adults is provided within the Astana Hub, the country's first unicorn company has also hatched from incubation.

The institute affiliated with Nazarbayev University has developed local language models aimed at preserving the Kazakh language and culture.

Infrastructure and Privacy Concerns

The artificial intelligence initiatives face serious infrastructure challenges such as the energy and water consumption of data centers and aging electrical grids.

Concerns are being raised regarding human rights and data privacy during the widespread implementation of facial recognition and biometric identification systems.