Kazakh President Holds Discussions with Leading AI Specialists in Abu Dhabi
Kazakhstan Embraces Artificial Intelligence for Modern Progress
In a significant move, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with AI experts on January 15, 2023, during his working visit to Abu Dhabi. The discussion marked a step towards Kazakhstan's ambition to become an active player in the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Tokayev considers AI as one of the key driving forces of modern progress. He emphasized the need for the formation of an institutional framework, infrastructure, and the development of human capital in Kazakhstan. As a result, the country has established a comprehensive institutional setup to drive AI advancement.
The high-level digital transformation group, chaired by the Prime Minister, oversees AI integration across nine strategic priority areas, including economy, public administration, healthcare, and Smart City projects. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry leads the implementation efforts and reports directly to this group.
A key component is the national digital platform QazTech, operational since mid-2025, which serves as a commercial and sovereign digital backbone to unify state and quasi-state digital systems. The Digital Government Support Center operates as a crucial analytical and project hub, responsible for creating Kazakhstan’s digital architecture and expanding AI in public services.
Kazakhstan also collaborates internationally, as evidenced by its memorandum with Zhejiang University of Technology to establish an International Joint Laboratory focused on AI applied to energy and climatology.
Recognizing a shortage of skilled AI professionals, Kazakhstan is emphasizing human capital growth through programs like AI-Sana. This initiative aims to transform universities into AI research hubs and nurture talent capable of supporting AI initiatives across sectors. Institutes such as the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI), founded at Nazarbayev University in 2019, play a critical role in cultivating advanced research and innovation in AI.
Among educational initiatives, AI-Sana stands out as a government-backed program designed to develop AI human resources comprehensively. It seeks to elevate university research centers, foster AI talent, and support the broader rollout of AI technologies in government and industry. This program is a major pillar in Kazakhstan’s strategy to overcome talent shortages and ensure sustainable AI growth.
However, challenges remain; an expert cited a shortage of trained personnel and concerns about the underutilization or mismanagement of digital projects due to insufficient professional capacity and retention issues. Nevertheless, with the creation of an International Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence, the AlemAI advanced technology center, and the innovative Al-Sana program, Kazakhstan is taking significant steps to create a solid foundation for the promotion of AI. The council, working under Tokayev's leadership, will serve as a strategic platform for dialogue and exchange of views with global experts, aiming to develop recommendations for national AI policy and strengthen international cooperation.
In conclusion, Kazakhstan is advancing its AI sector through a coordinated institutional approach, significant investment in human capital development including research institutes like ISSAI, and targeted educational programs such as AI-Sana. While structural foundations and partnerships are strong, the country continues to address challenges related to skills shortages and effective project execution.
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