Over the course of two days (January 31 and February 1), the forum will be attended by the heads of government from EAEU countries, as well as representatives from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, international and domestic IT companies, experts, business community representatives, and even humanoid robots. The primary topic of discussion will be artificial intelligence.
The forum will explore the prospects for innovative development and the digital agenda of the EAEU countries. As part of the VII event, a large-scale competition, Industry 4.0 AI Battle, is planned, where AI startups will compete for the title of the best, alongside an exhibition featuring major Kazakhstani subsoil users, industrial startups, technoparks, and technology companies showcasing their projects and sharing experiences within the IT ecosystem.
“The Digital Almaty 2025 forum has established itself over eight years as an effective platform for discussing advancements in digital technologies and strengthening cooperation between the government, business, and the scientific community.
The new era demands our swift adaptation to the rapidly changing digital world. The 1980s saw the mass proliferation of computers, while the 2000s marked the beginning of the smartphone and mobile application era. Each of these innovations boosted the global GDP by over 7%. Today, we live and grow in a new era—the era of artificial intelligence.
According to research by the analytical firm IDC, by 2030, the contribution of AI to the global economy will reach $20 trillion. Thanks solely to artificial intelligence, annual GDP growth could be around 2-3%. We must leverage this opportunity to develop the economies of our countries,” stated Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in his welcoming speech.
Bektenov highlighted three key aspects for AI development.
“The first is the development of human capital. The global AI model is shifting from competitive to cooperative. Industry leaders are joining forces and collaboratively implementing research projects. On specialized platforms, enthusiasts share their developments for the sake of collective progress. We must utilize this experience for our own and joint developments.
The head of our state initiated the creation of a competency ecosystem based at the international AI center “Alem AI,” which will open in Astana this year. It will unite leading IT companies, research laboratories, startups, and educational institutions for collaborative work. There are proposals to combine the efforts of EAEU countries in implementing joint projects based on this center.
It is also crucial to ensure a comprehensive approach not only to training IT specialists but also to the effective use of AI in everyday life. Over the next five years, Kazakhstan plans to train 1 million people in this field,” Bektenov began.
The second aspect highlighted was the development of digital infrastructure and access to technology.
“Global experience shows that simply expanding infrastructure becomes impractical, especially given the rising costs of computing power and tightening technology export regulations. Chinese models DeepSeek and 01.AI have demonstrated that large language models can be developed with minimal costs.
Transitioning to our own LLMs and multimodal models is the next important step. These technologies will help preserve cultural values, adapt solutions to local markets, and enhance data security,” noted Bektenov.
Lastly, Bektenov emphasized the development of the institutional framework for AI and discussed what is being done in Kazakhstan regarding legislation and beyond.
“Kazakhstan has established a Committee on Artificial Intelligence and approved a concept that will serve as the foundation for a national AI strategy. A draft law has been prepared to create a legal basis for innovation development and ensure a balance between regulation and industry stimulation.
A council for AI development is also being formed under the President, which will bring together domestic and international experts to integrate best practices and technologies.
To support promising projects based at Astana Hub, a venture capital fund has been created with a targeted volume of $1 billion. Astana Hub serves as a regional center for technological progress and innovation, uniting around 1,500 participants with a total annual revenue of over $1 billion, including 150 startups in the AI sector,” stated the Prime Minister.
During the forum, a video entirely generated by AI from text was showcased.
According to Bektenov, the development of AI startups is driving revolutionary changes in the economy, albeit not without challenges and negative aspects.
“We are open to collaboration and ready to support new projects. However, it is important to consider the challenges. These include:
- The impact of AI on the labor market and the need for retraining specialists.
- Ethical issues, including risks of manipulating public opinion.
- Environmental consequences and the burden on energy resources.
- Ensuring equal access to AI technologies for different countries and social groups.
- Management and control of AI.
Today’s forum provides a unique opportunity to discuss these issues. I am confident that many participants will find the necessary solutions here and be able to minimize risks,” he concluded.
Digital Almaty 2025 will focus on groundbreaking changes in industry and the impact of artificial intelligence on the global sector. AI technologies are becoming a key driver for enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability in production processes. The use of Industrial AI for automation, forecasting, and optimizing complex production chains opens new horizons for intelligent management of the industrial sector. It is expected that over 40,000 participants will attend this two-day event.