On June 4, 2026, representatives of OpenAI visited Nazarbayev University to discuss artificial intelligence research, education, and the future impact of AI on economies and societies. The engagements included meetings with university leadership, a guest lecture by Rachel Brown from OpenAI’s Economic Research Team, and a roundtable discussion on AI and education featuring representatives from OpenAI, academia, and government.
On June 4, Nazarbayev University welcomed Rachel Brown, whose work focuses on understanding how artificial intelligence is being adopted across different countries and sectors, as well as its implications for economic growth, productivity, labor markets, and public policy.
The visit began with a campus tour led by Assel Uvaliyeva, Vice-President of Nazarbayev University, and Huseyin Atakan Varol, General Director of ISSAI and Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI). Brown subsequently met with Nazarbayev University leadership, including Provost Rehan Sadiq, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Budget Aida Sagintayeva, Vice Provost for Research Bjorn Birgisson, Dean of the Graduate School of Business Joep Konings, and Chief Information Officer Askar Boranbayev.
Following the meeting, Rachel Brown delivered a guest lecture titled “How Kazakhstan Uses ChatGPT and the Economic Future?” for Nazarbayev University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. During the session, she shared insights into global AI adoption trends and discussed the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on economies, productivity, workforce development, and policymaking.
These engagements reflect ISSAI’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and advancing research, education, and innovation in artificial intelligence. Through partnerships with leading global organizations, ISSAI continues to contribute to the development of Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem and the responsible adoption of AI technologies across society.