AI revolution takes centre stage at Almaty Digital Forum

A major shift in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape coincided with the opening of Kazakhstan’s seventh annual Almaty Digital Forum. The sudden emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, sent ripples through the tech community, raising serious questions about the future of AI and its implications for global economies.

DeepSeek’s developers claim it was built for just $6 million (€5.8 million), far cheaper than competing AI systems, which cost between $40 million and $100 million (€38.5-96 million). Experts at the forum highlighted this as a game-changer, proving that AI solutions no longer require enormous budgets, making them accessible to smaller countries and companies.

Speakers at the forum stressed that AI will be the key driver of economic development. Kaan Terzioğlu, CEO of VEON Group, stated that AI’s real impact lies in enhancing human capabilities. “The sooner we make a doctor a better doctor, a teacher a better teacher, a small business owner more successful, the sooner we will see returns on AI investment,” he said.

Nick Davydov, founder of Gagarin Capital, pointed out that developers can create powerful AI systems even on constrained budgets. This suggests AI is shifting away from being monopolised by tech giants and becoming an opportunity for smaller developers.

Kazakhstan is determined to lead this transformation. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasised the importance of international AI collaboration and Kazakhstan’s need to develop sovereign AI solutions in local languages. Failure to do so, Terzioğlu warned, could lead to cultural erosion at an unprecedented scale.

Education is central to Kazakhstan’s AI vision. Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev announced an ambitious plan to train one million AI specialists by 2030, including 800,000 students and 90,000 civil servants. The country is also launching Alem.ai, a dedicated AI research hub aimed at fostering technological growth and boosting AI-driven exports to $5 billion (€4.8 billion) by 2029.

Alem.ai will serve as a catalyst for AI development, hosting start-ups, research projects, and global tech companies like Google and Telegram. Kazakhstan also plans to attract 10,000 skilled professionals to drive AI innovation within the region.

The forum’s impressive attendance underscored the region’s commitment to AI. Over 220 tech companies participated, and more than 80 local start-ups showcased their innovations. Thousands of students lined up for hours to enter the event, reflecting the country’s growing enthusiasm for AI.

Kazakhstan’s ambitious plans may seem bold, but with strong government backing and international cooperation, the nation is poised to become a central AI hub in Asia.