Year of Artificial Intelligence: What changes await Kazakhstan in 2026
EL.KZ Информационно-познавательный портал
In 2026, Kazakhstan officially declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence - one of the key directives set by President Tokayev.
The Government has already approved a detailed plan consisting of eight major sectors and around one hundred key events. These measures are expected to give a powerful boost to the country’s digital transformation from education and public administration to the economy, urban development, and digital security. Details were shared by the press service of the Ministry of AI and Digital Development of Kazakhstan.
The plan covers nearly all aspects of the modern digital economy. It includes organizational support for the Year, strategic planning, regulatory changes, and large-scale efforts to prepare people to work with new technologies.
Particular emphasis is placed on data protection, infrastructure development, digitalization of key industries, smart development of cities and regions, and the creation of an entirely new economy of the future.
The official opening of the Year is set to take place in March at the international artificial intelligence center Alem.Ai marking a high-profile launch for all planned initiatives.
Strategy and the rules of the game: creating a favorable environment for digitalization
One of the first and most important module focuses on the strategic and regulatory foundation which will define the country’s long-term digital development priorities. To support domestic IT companies, special tax incentives and regulatory relief will be introduced, enabling businesses to grow faster and with greater confidence.
In addition, the plan calls for the adoption or formal amendment of at least 90% of all key legislative initiatives in the areas of digitalization, artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and digital assets - an important step toward establishing clear and modern rules.
People as the main asset: mass preparation for the AI era
Human capital development is a major focus through the AI-SANA initiative. The project is being actively scaled so that artificial intelligence becomes part of education at all levels from schools to universities as well as retraining and upskilling programs for adults.
Schools will introduce dedicated AI days (Day of AI Qazaqstan) and open TUMO centers, which have already proven effective in other countries. Overall, the program will reach at least 450,000 school students, university students, and teachers nationwide, all of whom will gain skills in digital technologies and AI.
This year will also see the launch of the first phase of an AI University, while the Tomorrow School of Artificial Intelligence will begin operating in the regions to train future AI professionals. For public and quasi-public sector executives, the “AI Governance 500” program has been launched; for civil servants, the AI Qyzmet initiative continues to expand; and for businesses, a new program AI Corporate is being introduced to help employees delegate routine tasks to AI and focus on what truly matters.
A new model of government: the transition to GovTech
Government agencies are actively transitioning to the GovTech model a true digital revolution in public administration. The focus is on creating a convenient digital workplace for every civil servant, expanding the eGov portal (including the eGov Business version), developing services through the Social Wallet, and deploying AI on the national AI platform.
As a result, at least 80% of civil servants will gain access to a unified Gov Workspace with single sign-on to all key services. Fifty public services will be delivered using AI, and at least 30% of government information systems will be migrated to the modern QazTech platform.
Internet access will also be expanded to trains, aircraft, popular tourist destinations, and border facilities along with the launch of advanced Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity. These measures aim to improve the quality of digital public services for citizens and businesses by at least 75%.
Security first: strengthening cybersecurity and infrastructure
Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure form another priority pillar. The unified information security framework is being reinforced through audits of government systems, rapid vulnerability remediation, and the introduction of mandatory protection tools. Special attention is given to migrating state systems to a new, modern government data center to significantly enhance data storage and processing reliability.
Digitalizing the economy: from energy to agriculture
Digital solutions are being actively implemented across key sectors of the economy. This includes management automation, digitization of vast datasets, AI-driven analytics, digital twins, IoT sensors and drones, proactive tax administration, and more.
In the energy sector, AI will be integrated into all key management processes while ensuring cyber resilience of critical systems. 90% of geological data will be digitized within a unified digital environment. A full digital framework for cross-border trade and logistics will be launched. Agriculture will receive AI-based monitoring of fields and production, increasing yields by 10% and creating a complete digital trace of products “from field to shelf.”
In construction, at least 30% of projects will be implemented using digital master plans and BIM modeling. 30% of financial institutions will be connected to the unified digital public services environment. Social and labor sectors will move at least 90% of key processes into digital formats.
Smart cities and regions: connectivity and comfort for all
Comprehensive digital development of cities and regions is one of the most visible pillars. Fiber-optic networks continue to be built in rural areas, mobile internet coverage is expanding along highways, and 5G networks will be launched simultaneously in twenty cities.
Public Service Centers will be transformed into Digital Public Offices with a strong emphasis on self-service zones. The Smart City project will launch in Astana, and IT hubs will continue to expand.
As a result, 99% of citizens will be connected to high-speed internet, and the twenty largest cities will achieve full 5G coverage. The urban comfort index will increase by at least 15% annually, and no fewer than 20 CSCs will be fully transformed into modern digital offices.
A new economy: from drones to space
Finally, building a new economy includes developing the unmanned systems industry and the low-altitude economy, with at least five pilot projects launched under experimental legal regimes. A regulated crypto industry and digital assets market will emerge, state-backed mining will begin, and Kazakhstan will place its own satellites into orbit and start exporting them.
This year could truly become a turning point - technology will cease to be something distant and will become part of the everyday lives of millions of Kazakhstanis.
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