Amina Baikenova, Acting Deputy Director of Product and External Affairs of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University, participated as an AI expert and representative of the academic and research community in UNICEF’s national foresight session “Kazakhstan 2035: Artificial Intelligence, Children and Future Generations,” held in Astana on September 24-25.
The two-day session brought together decision-makers and experts from government, business, academia, civil society and international organisations to discuss how artificial intelligence may shape Kazakhstan’s development by 2035, particularly its impact on children and future generations. The results of the foresight exercise and recommendations developed following the workshop were subsequently presented to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As part of a working group, Amina worked alongside Ablaikhan Ospanov, Managing Director for Digitalization at Samruk-Kazyna, and Gulmira Karaulova, Deputy Head of the Bureau of National Statistics, to examine possible trajectories for Kazakhstan’s AI development.
Over the course of the session, the group discussed four possible scenarios for the future of AI in Kazakhstan and considered the opportunities, challenges and priorities associated with each.
The discussions covered key issues including equal access to AI infrastructure and technologies, the transformation of education, inclusion, data protection and the responsible development of AI. Particular attention was given to ensuring that future AI systems create opportunities for children across Kazakhstan, regardless of their location or circumstances.
The session provided a platform for experts and decision-makers to exchange perspectives on Kazakhstan’s possible AI futures and discuss how the country can develop its own capabilities while remaining open to international technologies, research and partnerships.