Kazakhstan to establish first AI research university
New institution will integrate education, research, and policy in AI, advancing Kazakhstan’s climate of innovation and sovereignty
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan is preparing to establish its first research university dedicated to artificial intelligence by the end of 2025, aiming to boost innovation and reduce reliance on foreign expertise.
The new institution will integrate education, research, and technology transfer, placing the country in line with a growing number of states that see AI as a matter of economic and strategic importance.
According to The Times of Central Asia, the government has been tasked with developing proposals for the university, which will hold a special status and seek partnerships with leading international institutions.
The facility is expected to serve as a hub for science, education, and innovation, while also training specialists capable of applying AI technologies across multiple sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy.
The initiative builds on earlier efforts to expand digital skills and AI literacy. More than 63,000 students are currently studying IT-related disciplines across 79 universities in Kazakhstan, and AI has been introduced as a standalone subject.
In 2024, local researchers launched KazLLM, a large language model for the Kazakh language, while a government-backed certification program known as AI-Sana has already trained over 440,000 students.
Officials say the new university would consolidate these developments under a single institution, positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub for AI research and innovation.
Comparisons have been drawn to global initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in the United Arab Emirates, or the network of AI institutes funded in the United States and European Union.
At the same time, policymakers have cautioned against overreliance on AI tools in education, warning that automated systems should support — not replace — critical thinking and independent analysis. Proposals also include creating digital student profiles to track performance and aptitudes, which would allow for more personalized education pathways and help close gaps between urban and rural schools.
The announcement comes amid broader government efforts to regulate AI and incorporate the technology into state institutions. Earlier this year, Kazakhstan established a Ministry for Artificial Intelligence Development and called for the creation of an international body to oversee the ethical use of AI worldwide.
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