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Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan Plans Artificial Intelligence University for 2025 Launch

Kazakhstan will develop proposals by the end of 2025 to establish a dedicated research university focused on artificial intelligence (AI), President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during the inaugural meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Development Council in Astana. Tokayev said AI is becoming a decisive force in shaping the economy, governance, science, and education, factors that directly affect national competitiveness and sovereignty. He added that Kazakhstan needs a specialized scientific institution to systematically address all aspects of AI application. “This institution should be granted special status, and it is important to attract leading global universities as partners. I instruct the government to prepare concrete proposals by the end of this year,” Tokayev stated. The president noted that the university’s primary mission will be to train highly qualified specialists capable of applying AI technologies across all sectors of the economy. The institution is expected to serve as a hub for science, education, innovation, and international cooperation, giving talented young people the opportunity to receive world-class education within Kazakhstan rather than abroad. Tokayev also urged existing universities to intensify efforts to train a new generation of engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs skilled in advanced technologies. He highlighted the AI-Sana program, launched earlier this year, through which more than 440,000 students have already received AI certification. According to Tokayev, such platforms can help transform student projects into startups with access to international markets. Currently, more than 63,000 students are enrolled in IT-related disciplines at 79 universities across Kazakhstan. AI has been introduced as a separate subject, and last year local researchers developed KazLLM, a large language model for the Kazakh language. However, Tokayev said a central coordinating body is still needed, citing institutions such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE as examples. The president also pointed to AI’s transformative potential in education, particularly through personalized learning systems that can move beyond the “one-size-fits-all” model. These systems offer tailored programs based on individual students’ strengths and weaknesses and are already being used in countries such as the United States and South Korea. Tokayev said such approaches could help narrow the gap between urban and rural schools, including small rural institutions, and better support students with special educational needs. At the same time, he cautioned against overreliance on AI. “Relying too heavily on neural networks, students may lose skills in critical thinking and independent analysis. AI should enhance the learning process, not replace its fundamentals,” Tokayev said, calling for government safeguards to preserve academic integrity. He also outlined plans to develop digital student profiles that record academic performance, achievements, and aptitudes. These profiles would support personalized education pathways, optimize university curricula, and streamline career planning. Tokayev instructed the government to design a national digital profile system integrated with the future AI university. Tokayev has previously called for the creation of an international regulatory body to oversee the ethical dimensions of AI and establish universal legislation governing its use. Kazakhstan recently launched a Ministry for Artificial Intelligence Development, and several government ministries are...

Kazakh MP Advocates for AI-Driven Land Resource Management

Aidarbek Khojanazarov, a member of the Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, has proposed making artificial intelligence (AI) technologies a central tool in managing the country’s land resources. Speaking at parliamentary hearings on AI development, Khojanazarov highlighted longstanding concerns over non-transparent land allocation, a frequent source of public dissatisfaction. “AI can become a key instrument for fair land management and the preservation of every hectare,” he said. “These technologies can identify those who degrade or pollute soils, forecast risks of erosion, salinization, and desertification, and provide land commissions with objective data for decision-making.” Khojanazarov also noted that Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial complex suffers from a shortage of specialists, including agronomists, economists, and veterinarians. He argued that AI could mitigate this issue by reducing reliance on narrow expertise while broadening access to cutting-edge tools. “For example, in the U.S., the Farmers Edge platform enables a single agronomist to manage two to three times more land using satellite data and analytics. The British startup CattleEye diagnoses livestock diseases through video analytics, cutting veterinarian visits by 25%. In Kazakhstan, similar innovations could lower barriers to growth and unlock new opportunities for local farmers,” he said. To support this vision, Khojanazarov proposed the creation of agro-IT accelerators at universities, the introduction of AI assistants for agricultural specialists, and the launch of mobile agro-hubs to train farmers in AI applications. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek reported that Kazakhstan is already implementing 62 AI-based projects across various sectors, with 9.7 billion tenge (approximately $18 million) allocated through targeted and grant programs. “Currently, 27 universities and six research institutes across 11 regions are involved, with a total of 479 scientists engaged. The largest concentration of projects is in Almaty and Astana,” Nurbek said. Zhaslan Madiyev, head of the newly formed Ministry for AI Development and Digital Transformation, announced that the International Center for Artificial Intelligence, alem.ai, will open this October in Astana. The center will serve as a platform for uniting researchers, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and technologists working on domestic AI solutions, including those in agriculture. Madiyev noted that Astana Hub, Central Asia’s largest IT startup technopark, has reached capacity, and the new center will complement its infrastructure. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer in July, reinforcing its ambition to become a regional technology hub.

Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan to Implement Artificial Intelligence in Social Assistance System

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the allocation of Targeted Social Assistance (TSA). TSA is a cash benefit for low-income citizens whose earnings fall below 35% of the national average. The assistance can be permanent for individuals with disabilities or conditional for able-bodied citizens who are temporarily unemployed but enrolled in retraining programs. The amount is determined as the difference between a family’s per capita income and the regional poverty line. The ministry now plans to automate the eligibility assessment process using AI technologies. “Today, we are training an AI model using the Random Forest Classifier, one of the most effective machine learning algorithms. It allows for more accurate and consistent results by analyzing multiple factors,” said Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Olzhas Anafin. “The model has undergone comprehensive validation and demonstrated over 90% accuracy, confirming its readiness for implementation.” The system will soon launch in pilot mode to handle new TSA applications. During the initial phase, AI-generated decisions will serve as recommendations for local executive bodies, with the possibility of becoming an official eligibility criterion in the future. In the second stage, the ministry plans to enhance the model’s capabilities by applying computer vision technologies to analyze visual data, including photographs and videos submitted with applications. According to ministry experts, this approach will enhance the objectivity of assessments regarding applicants’ living conditions and overall well-being. The resulting data will be used to further train the model. In the project’s third phase, the AI will assist in developing personalized support plans to help families move out of vulnerable circumstances. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has previously criticized the country’s social policy, stating that for over 15 years, the government “encouraged social dependency and social fraud” instead of pursuing rational reforms. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the Ministry of Labor has also drafted legislation aimed at eliminating the widespread use of “gray” salaries, undeclared wages. Approximately 30% of Kazakhstan’s working population is estimated to fall outside the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) due to this practice.

UN Adopts AI Resolution for Central Asia at Tajikistan’s Initiative

On July 25, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution titled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Creating New Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Central Asia.” The resolution was spearheaded by Tajikistan. A Historic Decision by the General Assembly According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the resolution sets a “historic precedent” in shaping a global framework for the ethical and secure use of artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes the importance of responsible governance, including mechanisms for national and regional self-regulation and oversight of AI technologies. Regional AI Center to Be Established in Dushanbe A central component of the resolution is the proposal to establish a Regional Artificial Intelligence Center in Dushanbe. The center will coordinate AI-related efforts across Central Asian countries, facilitating joint research, startup development, specialist training, and regulatory alignment. The center’s key objectives include: Launching joint educational initiatives and supporting AI start-ups via regional technology parks; Promoting scientific and applied research at universities, laboratories, and research institutes throughout Central Asia; Creating a unified data center network to improve access to computational resources; Harmonizing national monitoring and self-regulation systems in AI; Advancing international cooperation with global partners and specialized organizations. Tajikistan Steps onto the Global AI Stage The resolution stresses the need to develop “safe, trustworthy, and transparent AI systems,” promoting a balance between innovation and regulatory oversight. This, it states, will support sustainable development and digital transformation across the region. Tajikistan’s initiative, culminating in this UN resolution, marks a significant step in the country’s aspirations to position itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence to Assist Criminal Investigations in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into law enforcement operations. The initiative, titled “Digital Assistant to the Investigator,” is being implemented by the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a district police department in Astana. The system was officially introduced last week, with participation from Sabit Nurlybay, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor’s Office, and Sanjar Adilov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Built on AI algorithms and large-scale data processing, the digital assistant is designed to support investigators by identifying connections between cases, generating predictions, and offering procedural recommendations both for conducting investigations and preventing crime. According to a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the system is divided into three main modules: Investigation Planning - Upon registration of a criminal case, the system classifies the offense, outlines an investigative strategy based on existing circumstances, and suggests relevant witnesses to question and expert examinations to conduct Testimony Processing - AI transcribes spoken testimony into text during interviews, simultaneously analyzing speech patterns and behavior to detect contradictions and inconsistencies Document Generation - Based on interview data, the system drafts investigation documents that the investigator only needs to verify and sign The platform also generates final case documents, integrating information from the specific investigation along with relevant judicial precedents. Officials say the AI tool is expected to reduce investigation times and offload routine technical tasks from investigators. The initiative follows Kazakhstan’s unveiling of the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia last month, a move aimed at bolstering national digital infrastructure and AI development. Kazakhstan’s push for AI integration aligns with findings from the International Monetary Fund, which last year ranked the country as the regional leader in AI readiness.

TCA Interviews

Dr. Atakan Varol: Kazakhstan Should Play an Active Role in Shaping the Future of AI

The Times of Central Asia spoke with Dr. Hussein Atakan Varol, a professor of robotics and PhD in electrical engineering, who serves as General Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University (NU). Dr. Varol discusses ISSAI’s research initiatives, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Kazakhstan, and the country's potential to lead in AI innovation. ISSAI’s Mission and Collaborations TCA: What is the mission of ISSAI, and what are its key focus areas? Varol: At ISSAI, our mission is to conduct cutting-edge AI research and develop practical, impactful solutions that benefit Kazakhstan and the broader global community. We specialize in large-scale generative AI models, speech recognition, computer vision, and AI infrastructure. Our goal is to establish sovereign AI capabilities in Kazakhstan, minimizing dependence on external technologies while maintaining a strong ethical foundation. All our research adheres to principles of "AI for Good" and "AI for Kazakhstan," ensuring that developments remain responsible and socially beneficial. TCA: How does ISSAI collaborate with the public sector, private companies, and international organizations? Varol: We actively engage with government agencies, local businesses, and global AI research institutions. Our partnerships focus on AI model development, data collection, and deploying AI-driven solutions. Access to computational resources remains a key challenge, and we collaborate strategically to secure the infrastructure needed to scale AI projects in Kazakhstan. Notable Projects and Local Impact TCA: What are some of ISSAI’s most promising current developments? Varol: A highlight is SoyleApp, which provides real-time speech recognition, text-to-speech, and multilingual translation. It has vast potential in education, public services, and cross-language communication. We’ve also developed the Mangitas 01 Inference Server, a vital step for Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem. In the absence of AI supercomputers, we built Mangitas 01 using commercial off-the-shelf components, allowing local deployment of AI models with enhanced data security. We’re now working on expanding this line to support our Oylan language-vision model, paving the way for more advanced multimodal AI applications. TCA: Have ISSAI’s solutions been successfully implemented in Kazakhstan? Varol: Yes. SoyleApp is being integrated into governmental and enterprise systems to improve accessibility for Kazakh-speaking users. Mangitas 01 serves as a prototype for local AI infrastructure, enabling organizations to operate AI systems within Kazakhstan, enhancing both data protection and performance. TCA: How does the local context influence your AI development? Varol: Kazakhstan’s linguistic and cultural diversity demands AI systems capable of understanding and producing content in Kazakh, Russian, and other regional languages. We've created tailored datasets and models to meet these needs. Moreover, the country's limited AI infrastructure has led us to focus on efficient and scalable solutions like Mangitas 01. [caption id="attachment_31080" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Dr. Atakan Varol; image: NU.edu[/caption] The Future of AI and Kazakhstan’s Role TCA: How do you see AI evolving over the next 5-10 years? Varol: The next leap is toward multimodal and sparse generative models that handle text, images, and audio simultaneously. With proper investment, Kazakhstan can contribute meaningfully to this frontier. We’re also exploring edge AI, which enables...