Under the chairmanship of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a meeting was held on the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Those in attendance included Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Head of the Presidential Administration Aibek Dadebay, members of the government, and heads of central state bodies. The Head of State emphasised that without mastering advanced technologies, it is impossible to withstand global competition, and that AI should become a key factor for national independence and economic growth.
As reported by the press service of Akorda, according to the forecast of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), by 2033 the global AI market will reach $4.8 trillion, and its share in the technology industry will increase from 7% to 29%.
The President noted that in July 2025, the administration of Donald Trump in the USA presented the America’s AI Action Plan strategy, and China initiated the creation of the Global AI Cooperation Organisation.
In the opinion of the Head of State, Kazakhstan should support China's initiative and participate in the preparatory activities.
"This is in our country's interests. Kazakhstan's main goal is to become a digital hub in Eurasia. To achieve this, it is necessary to move to concrete actions. It is important to approach each issue systematically, make balanced decisions, and strictly control their implementation," he said.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reminded that he had previously instructed them to prepare the necessary infrastructure, develop the legislative framework and data collection system, and begin work on implementing AI. However, he assessed the progress on executing these instructions as unsatisfactory.
Tokayev identified nine priority areas for AI development, including:
- the introduction of technologies into the real sector of the economy and public administration;
- the application of AI in healthcare for accurate diagnosis and treatment;
- the development of a law on AI;
- the creation of a unified digital platform, QazTech, which will centralise digital development processes and reduce the time for their implementation;
- strengthening cybersecurity and the protection of personal data;
- the transfer of official communications to a secure domestic messenger;
- the training of personnel through educational programmes, including the AI-Sana project;
- support for domestic start-ups and attracting investment;
- the development of international cooperation in the field of digital technologies.
According to the Head of State, many government services still remain at the level of "digital fixation" — documents are submitted online, but processing requires manual intervention. In this regard, he instructed the government to develop specific measures for implementing AI in the sphere of public services within three months.
The President stressed the need for a clear and pragmatic programme for AI development, which will become a "guide" for digital transformation. He noted that this issue would be under his personal supervision.
"At today's meeting, we identified a number of important tasks. All state bodies and institutions will have to work together. Representatives of the private sector should also be involved in this work, as it is a national goal. The Ministry of Digital Development, as the main coordinating body, must ensure overall interaction," the statement reads.
In conclusion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised that key decisions and proposals related to AI must be prepared and presented to him within two months.