President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set the goal of building an AI-powered digital economy in his state-of-the-nation address. To achieve this, Kazakhstan is expanding its computing capacity. Two supercomputers are already operational, with a third scheduled to be commissioned by the end of the year. New data centres are also under construction. International experts have highlighted the country’s prospects. In their view, developing its own infrastructure will help strengthen Kazakhstan’s technological independence and enhance its position as a regional IT hub. At the same time, the country can also participate in shaping international rules for the use of artificial intelligence. The UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan is already operating in Almaty.
«Central Asia can make an important contribution to the world because it can bridge the different systems being produced by the West, by the US, by China, by Europe and elsewhere, and help with what we call policy and technical interoperability in this area,» noted Sam Daws, Senior Advisor to the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative.
«What Kazakhstan is doing is it’s answering the question to how a country like Kazakhstan can maintain autonomy and best position itself in this newly emerging AI economy. And the focus on infrastructure and the overall AI strategy of the country is one that is incredibly coherent. But you’re also beginning to see other countries look to as a potential model,» said Christopher Lamont, Head of Programme for AI Governance at the Global Governance Institute.
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