Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed launching an AI Challenge to connect domestic and international developers with practical industrial needs at the AI & Digital Bridge-2026 forum in Astana on October 1. According to Akorda, Kazakhstan’s presidential office, he said the country’s IT services exports exceeded $1 billion in 2025, with Kazakh digital solutions used in more than 100 countries, DKNews.kz reports.
A growing international market for Kazakh technology
Tokayev said Kazakhstan was steadily laying the groundwork to become a fully digital state. He argued that further progress would require tangible support for innovative startups and the implementation of advanced projects.
“Last year, Kazakhstan’s IT services exports exceeded $1 billion. Our digital solutions are used in more than 100 countries around the world. All these achievements reflect Kazakhstan’s sincere desire to contribute to progress for the prosperity of our country and the world. Nevertheless, in advanced technologies, we cannot rest on our achievements. If we aspire to build a strong technological foundation for our country, we must provide real support to innovative startup companies and implement advanced projects,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
A call for international responsibility on AI
The president also called for the highest standards of responsibility and integrity in artificial intelligence. He pointed to what he described as a recently signed agreement on superintelligence involving leading US technology companies, initiated by US President Donald Trump.
“I would like to note the recent signing of the Agreement on Superintelligence by leading American technology companies at the initiative of President Donald Trump. I believe that all interested countries will consider this approach as a model that could, following thorough discussion, be adopted at the global level,” Tokayev said.
He presented the approach as a potential basis for international discussion, rather than an already adopted global framework.
AI Challenge would target real industrial needs
Tokayev proposed drawing up a list of industrial AI challenges based on the economy’s actual needs. This would form the basis of an AI Challenge bringing together teams from Kazakhstan and abroad.
For developers, the initiative would provide an opportunity to build solutions around specific production problems. For businesses, its intended value lies in gaining AI tools tailored to their operational needs.
The challenge remains a proposal. The announcement did not specify a launch date or participation requirements. Tokayev outlined the intended outcome: the best projects that demonstrate their effectiveness would be deployed in production.
For more background, DKNews.kz has examined Kazakhstan’s expanding IT exports and the international reach of its digital products.
