Just a decade ago, Kazakhstan was mentioned in international technology rankings. The country’s economy was primarily associated with oil, metals, and agriculture. However, in recent years, a new industry has been emerging: the export of digital technologies and solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Today, Kazakhstani startups are developing diagnostic systems, neural networks for video generation, programming education platforms, and urban management algorithms. Increasingly, these solutions are being sold not just domestically, but globally from the United States to the Middle East. Kazakhstan is shifting from exporting resources to exporting intellectual property and technology.
AI as the new global economy
The surge of interest in artificial intelligence is driven not only by technological progress but also by massive economic expectations. Analysts estimate the global AI market is currently valued at approximately $391 bln and could skyrocket to $1.8 trillion by 2030. PwC, the consulting giant, forecasts that AI could add $15.7 trillion to the global economy over the next decade.
Nearly every major corporation is already investing in AI. According to McKinsey, 88% of companies use artificial intelligence in at least one business function from marketing to logistics. Against this backdrop, nations are competing to build their own technological ecosystems, and Kazakhstan is striving to secure its place in this new digital geography.
How Kazakhstan built its AI ecosystem
The turning point for the tech sector was the establishment of the Astana Hub International Tech Park for startups.
Today, it is the largest IT ecosystem in Central Asia, housing hundreds of tech companies, hosting acceleration programs, and fostering new startups. In recent years, Kazakhstan's IT service exports exceeded $1 billion, and the government has set an ambitious target of reaching $5 billion by 2029.
Key markets for Kazakhstani tech companies include the USA, UK, Germany, UAE, South Korea, and the Middle East. Many of these companies specialize specifically in AI.
Kazakhstani AI startups already operating globally
One of the most prominent Kazakhstani AI startups is CEREBRA. The company developed an AI-driven system that analyzes CT scans of the brain to help doctors diagnose strokes faster. In such cases, time is critical: every minute of delay can cost a patient their life or lead to severe complications. CEREBRA’s algorithms significantly accelerate the diagnosis process. Today, this technology is utilized in medical facilities across several countries and is considered one of the region’s most promising MedTech solutions.
Another notable project is the educational platform Codiplay. It teaches schoolchildren programming, robotics, and digital literacy through game mechanics and interactive tasks. The platform is already being used in over 450 schools worldwide from the UK to South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Essentially, the company is exporting a digital model for teaching the languages of the future.
Parqour operates in the Smart City sector. The company developed a computer vision system that analyzes urban parking spaces and automatically identifies available spots. Such technologies help optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve the efficiency of city management. Parqour’s projects are being implemented not only in Kazakhstan but also in the USA and Europe.
Another major player is Higgsfield AI. The company specializes in generative video - one of the fastest-growing niches in AI. To train its neural networks, the team utilized a massive 9-petabyte dataset and a supercomputer equipped with 512 GPUs. Experts believe the project has the potential to become one of the region's technological "unicorns."
Beyond these well-known names, a new wave of tech companies is emerging in Kazakhstan:
Most of these companies are targeting international markets from day one.
Why Kazakhstani startups are competing globally
Experts highlight several key reasons for this success:
Intellectual export
Until recently, Kazakhstan’s most talented programmers often moved abroad to Silicon Valley, Europe, or China. Today, that trend is reversing. More and more engineers are building startups at home and selling their technologies to the global market.
This process can be defined as the "export of intellect"a shift where the primary product is no longer raw materials or industrial goods, but knowledge, algorithms, and digital solutions. If forecasts for a trillion-dollar AI market hold true, countries that have built their own technological ecosystems will secure a significant niche. Kazakhstan is striving to be among them, and the first signs that this strategy is working are already visible.