Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has announced the formation of a Digital Transformation Group, or digital headquarters, tasked with accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the economy and ensuring the full implementation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directives on AI development.
The group, chaired by Bektenov, includes the deputy prime minister and chief of the government staff, the chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, the minister of digital development, innovation and aerospace industry, and the president’s digitalization advisor, The Caspian Post informs, citing Kazakh media.
During a meeting, the team discussed nine priority areas identified by President Tokayev: AI deployment in the real economy, public administration, and healthcare; development of the national AI and digital transformation strategy; enhancement of public services and appeal processing; modernization of IT infrastructure; launch of the QazTech platform; cybersecurity reinforcement; support for domestic IT startups; and advancement of Smart City initiatives.
Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev presented a report outlining strategies for implementing the president’s instructions.
AI in the Economy and Healthcare
Integrating AI into the economy is a top priority. The government, in partnership with the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, is developing a roadmap to implement AI in production processes to boost labor productivity. In healthcare, AI will support more precise diagnostics, personalized treatment, continuous patient monitoring, and automation of routine tasks, enhancing service quality, transparency, and efficiency. Domestic startups will gain access to the Healthcare Ministry’s infrastructure and the Unified Medical Database.
Digital Public Services
Efforts are underway to consolidate Aitu as a national messaging and service platform. Government agencies will migrate to Aitu, and key ecosystem participants will be integrated into a single digital environment, offering citizens streamlined, secure access to services. Work will also focus on strengthening IT architecture, improving architectural discipline, and bolstering data protection and cybersecurity.
Bektenov emphasized the urgency of resolving challenges associated with AI adoption across sectors.
“It is not only about improving the legal framework for the functioning of AI. It is necessary to address matters of data fragmentation, the lack of clear regulations for the distribution of supercomputer capacity, cybersecurity, and the complete transition to the QazTech platform. All these tasks are of strategic importance for the country’s digital transformation and must be completed by December of this year with a visible economic effect,” he said.
