Artificial Intelligence: Kazakhstan’s New Academic Momentum

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the world and is already being used in medicine, education, logistics, and many other fields. Experts predict that in the coming years AI will radically reshape the nature of work, learning formats, and everyday social life. Kazakhstan is not staying on the sidelines and is among the first to demonstrate the introduction of artificial intelligence through the university environment. For the second year in a row, AITU is hosting the AI Summer School 2025, organized with the support of the NNEF Public Foundation and the Halyk Charity Foundation of Timur Kulibayev.

“In 2024, the NNEF Public Foundation, together with the University Alliance of Science and Technology — which includes MUIIT, AITU, KBTU, and UIB — developed an educational program for training specialists in artificial intelligence,” says Laura Salamat, Head of Digital Transformation at NNEF. “This program includes both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and IT universities are already teaching these AI-oriented majors. It is important to note that our alliance universities were the first in Kazakhstan to launch specialist training in artificial intelligence starting last year. No other university in the country has yet introduced a similar initiative. In addition to academic programs aimed at training students and faculty, our universities are also working on a number of digital solutions. For example, an AI assistant is being developed to help students with career guidance and selecting their educational trajectory. MUIIT also operates an artificial intelligence research laboratory that conducts applied research for various industries.”

“It is now especially important for industries and the government to actively engage in collaboration with the alliance universities, because as an educational ecosystem we are ready to offer them innovative projects, talent, and a strong research base. We believe that AI is not only about technology — it is about the development of the country. If in 2024 we discussed the overall concept of artificial intelligence, this year we are talking about concrete tools. And next year, we aim to make the summer school even larger in scale and more industry-focused.”

“As we develop artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan, it is important not only to train specialists but also to build a well-designed legal framework,” says Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Yekaterina Smyshlyayeva. “Our approach is minimal but precise regulation. We advocate for technological and legislative neutrality: it is impossible to restrict a rapidly evolving field in advance. That is why we initiated the creation of a separate chapter in the code, where AI is defined as the ability to reproduce cognitive processes rather than simply a part of ICT. We are now preparing the first machine-readable law, which will mark a new stage of legal clarity and create a predictable environment for AI development in Kazakhstan.”

“AI Summer School 2025 is a unique educational event that brings together university leaders, faculty, researchers, and IT experts from countries such as Germany, Turkey, Latvia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan,” says Professor Çetin Elmas of Gazi University (Turkey). “The organization is of a very high level; this is my second time participating, and for me it is a confirmation of Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to developing the field of AI. This place offers excellent opportunities both for learning and for uniting experts. I am confident that Kazakhstan has enormous human and natural potential, and this will help the country become one of the most successful. Even now, it is already one of the regional leaders in AI. I see this as a bridge between the present and the future, and I am sure that its success will only continue to grow.”

“I am very glad to have the opportunity to come to Astana and share my knowledge with the participants of the school,” says Dr. Bogdan Gaidabrus, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Project Management of Riga Technical University (Latvia). “My lesson is dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in the management environment for project managers, IT leaders, and program coordinators.”

“The participants work in groups and solve practical cases where they use AI tools, including agents, for analysis and decision support. The speakers here are excellent, the participants are highly motivated, and the atmosphere is truly amazing. Even during lunch breaks, no one leaves—they continue discussing topics, which shows their deep engagement. I am convinced that such events are the right path for developing artificial intelligence in the country. The school is forming a critical mass of competent specialists who will integrate AI into real life. I would also like to express my special gratitude for the impeccable, detail-oriented organization to the Halyk Foundation led by Timur Kulibayev and the NNEF Foundation. They are investing in the future of Kazakhstan.”

Interest in the AI Summer School is growing rapidly: if last year the Summer School on Artificial Intelligence gathered around 60 participants, this year the number has exceeded 120, including both management and active attendees.

“The participants of the school are mostly university lecturers, and I believe that to teach students modern disciplines, educators themselves must stay up-to-date, understand technologies and know how to apply them,” says Anar Makhmetova, Rector of UIB University. This is precisely the mission of the Summer School. A major value is that the training is fully covered through sponsorship support—real assistance that gives lecturers an opportunity to acquire new knowledge and apply it in their work. Artificial intelligence is no longer the future—it is already part of our daily reality. There is no need to fear it; instead, it should be understood and used correctly, knowing where and how it can be applied. AI will not replace the teacher, but it can become an excellent assistant in performing routine tasks and automating processes.

“It is very important that the school discusses not only technical aspects but also ethics, legal frameworks, and the role of humans. For example, on the second day, MP Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva gave a talk, and it became clear that legislative initiatives in this sphere are already underway in the country. This shows that AI is entering our lives at the level of national policy. Of course, some professions may eventually disappear, giving way to AI agents, but artificial intelligence will never be able to replace humans entirely—especially in fields where emotional intelligence plays a critical role, such as psychology. That is why our task now is to define the boundaries of AI application, where it is appropriate to use it, and where responsibility must remain with humans.”

“The organization of the event is excellent: logistics, cultural activities, and the opportunity for teachers from the regions to come to the capital, gain new knowledge, and broaden their horizons. For many participants, this is not just training—it's their first trip to Astana. Supporting such initiatives is an important and timely decision. Under the management of the NNEF Public Foundation are universities, schools, colleges, and kindergartens. If we begin teaching the basics of AI at the school level and continue all the way to doctoral studies, it will create a well-structured trajectory for integrating AI. At the Summer School, all key aspects—from applied tools to legal frameworks—are discussed. For educators working with young people, it is crucial to understand these processes themselves in order to shape students’ attitudes toward technology correctly.”

“I was fortunate to participate in the AI Summer School for the second time,” says Daulet Baky­tov, senior lecturer at the Department of Cybersecurity at IITU. “I came here with the goal of deepening my knowledge, particularly in neural networks, mathematical statistics, and hardware foundations. The school’s format—sessions where theory is immediately combined with hands-on practice—helps grasp the material much better. I am confident this will give me new tools both for teaching and for practical work. Such events are undoubtedly important: they allow instructors to improve their qualifications at a convenient time, right after the end of the academic semester, and also meet new colleagues, build scientific connections, and discuss future projects and grants.”

“Listening to the speakers, I realized how deep and multifaceted the use of artificial intelligence can be, including its enormous potential in the legal field,” shares Asem Tynystanbekova, Director of the Legal Department at IITU. “I want to express my gratitude to the organizers for their support, because initiatives like this create real opportunities to develop AI at the national level, and such events can become a new tradition and an integral part of Kazakhstan’s educational ecosystem. As a flagship of digital education, the International University of Information Technologies will certainly implement the knowledge gained here into its own practice.”

“I am part of the technical section and have already had the opportunity to work with professors Darkhan and Beibit, who provided valuable knowledge in the field of AI,” says Nursultan Khaimuldin, senior lecturer of the Department of Computer Engineering at AITU. Although the concept and term “artificial intelligence” emerged in the 1950s through the work of Alan Turing, the development of AI slowed down in the 1980s and especially the 1990s due to limited computing power and lack of data. Today everything has changed: large datasets, supercomputers, the internet and social networks have become the foundation for a massive revival and integration of AI. The release of OpenAI products gave an especially powerful boost to AI advancement. Kazakhstan is trying to keep pace with global trends. We cannot yet say we are among the leaders, but we are certainly not falling behind. Thanks to the initiatives carried out by the NNEF Public Foundation, the University Alliance, and the Halyk Charity Foundation of Timur Kulibayev, we now have a real opportunity to move forward in the AI sphere. I am happy to be part of this process here in Kazakhstan.