Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) identified the development of AI as a strategic priority and instructed that the contribution of the digital economy to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) be assessed. He also pointed out the need for an objective analysis of the impact of digitalisation to avoid distorting real economic indicators.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT STATED
The Head of State noted that the world has entered a new stage of technological transformation, where artificial intelligence is becoming the foundation of the global economy, and data is becoming a key resource.
The President emphasised that Kazakhstan views the development of AI as a priority and intends to transform itself into a digital state. At the same time, the introduction of technologies must occur with consideration for the principle of 'technological prudence' and national interests.
WHY A NEW ASSESSMENT OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY IS REQUIRED
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev indicated that the concept of a 'digital economy' does not have a definitive definition, and existing approaches to its assessment remain fragmented.
"When we are briefed on achieving the target GDP growth rate of five per cent, it is necessary to clearly distinguish to what extent this was provided by the work of the real sector of the economy, and to what extent it was the result of the introduction of innovations," the President stated.
Otherwise, according to him, the overall indicators may create an 'illusion of efficiency', without reflecting the real impact of digitalisation. In this regard, the President instructed the government, together with the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, to prepare proposals for assessing the impact of the digital economy on GDP.
WHAT RISKS AND CHALLENGES ARE IDENTIFIED
The Head of State reported that, according to international research, the gap between developed and developing economies is widening.
"Artificial intelligence leads to the concentration of capital and technology in the hands of global leaders, creating a 'technological gap' that cannot be overcome without timely and decisive regulatory intervention. For Kazakhstan, this is a signal," noted Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The President also drew attention to the risks of the 'middle-income trap', where traditional sources of growth — resources and cheap labour — are exhausted, while new drivers have not yet been formed.
WHAT ROLE DO DATA AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that without a unified system of state data, the development of artificial intelligence would be limited.
He emphasised the need to transition to a data-centric model, where structured data becomes the basis for the introduction of technologies. In particular, this involves converting archival information into digital format and creating a unified data system.
The President also noted that government services must be transformed into an efficient digital system capable of reducing request processing times from days to seconds.