AI Collaboration Highlighted: Discussion Between Kazakhstan and France on Future Opportunities
ASTANA - A thrilling gathering of minds took place at Astana Hub on April 2, as the Embassy of France in Kazakhstan teamed up with Astana Hub and the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, hosting an insightful brainstorming session. The discussion revolved around the key takeaways from the AI Action Summit in Paris and the burgeoning opportunities for partnership between Kazakhstan and France in the rapidly evolving world of AI.
Ambassador Guiaugue drove home the importance of joint collaboration in shaping a sustainable and ethical AI future. Credit: Astana Hub
Led by Ambassador Sylvain Guiaugue, the roundtable brought together a diverse group of influential figures, such as First Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan Kanysh Tuleushin, Managing Director of Astana Hub Tanat Uskembayev, Director of Alstom for Central Asia Jérôme Boyer, founder of HubLab.ai Ivan Kononov, and yours truly as the session moderator.
Kazakhstan's AI vision: investments and regulation
Kanysh Tuleushin opened the discussion by emphasizing that AI is not merely a technological switch; instead, it's a fundamental shift for the country's education and economy.
"We are constructing our AI ecosystem with initiatives like the creation of a national AI Center, Alem.AI," explained Tuleushin. He highlighted that the center will support research, education, and startups, laying a solid foundation for AI development.
Human capital development is a top priority for Kazakhstan, with plans to provide AI education and training to over 200,000 citizens annually, including students, professionals, and public servants.
To back up their ambitious plans, Kazakhstan has invested in critical computing hardware to create national AI models, such as language models and AI assistants. They also have their sights set on implementing their national AI platform and advancing numerous AI projects.
By preparing their first national AI law, Kazakhstan aims to ensure its safe and ethical use in the long run.
France's global AI efforts, opportunities for growth
Ambassador Guiaugue sheds light on the AI Action Summit in Paris, a political event geared towards fostering international discussions on AI's destiny. Guiaugue emphasized the significance of collaboration in building a responsible, sustainable, and ethical AI future.
"More than 100 countries participated in the summit, focusing on developing an AI that is ethical, inclusive, democratic, and sustainable," Guiaugue pointed out.
Guiaugue emphasized that collaborating on AI development within an ethical framework is crucial to safeguarding public interests. He added that France goes a step further by advocating for AI that serves the greater good.
The ambassador also touched upon the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and France in the AI sector. He praised Kazakhstan for its commitment to the political declaration at the summit, signaling a shared vision for ethical AI development. Moreover, he shared positive feedback from French companies that have shown strong interest in Kazakhstan's market post-summit.
French companies are drawn to Kazakhstan because of the exceptional level of knowledge among local students, positioning Kazakhstan as an enticing market for French firms.
Kazakhstan's participation in the Global Partnership for AI, co-founded by France, offers valuable opportunities for both countries. Collaboration allows Kazakhstan to explore best practices in AI regulation, learn from global experts, and align its AI legislation with international standards. Additionally, French educational models, including the "Tomorrow School," are being introduced in Kazakhstan, strengthening bilateral relations.
Pragmatic AI applications and the challenges faced by Kazakh startups
As the discussion unfolded, potential opportunities for collaboration among French and Kazakh firms were presented. French businesses express enthusiasm for investing in Kazakhstan's flourishing talent pool, with plans to venture into projects in smart cities and digital connectivity.
Guiaugue highlighted the pilot project in Taldykorgan as a fantastic example of collaboration between the two nations. By working together to build AI-empowered urban solutions, France and Kazakhstan can continue forging a brighter and more connected future.
By working hand-in-hand, France and Kazakhstan will definitely create a more innovative, intelligent, and sustainable world for all.
Deep Dive: AI Development in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is actively advancing its AI capabilities, focusing on three key areas: institutional framework, technological infrastructure, and human capital. The country has a current Concept for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, a framework that covers international experience and the current state of AI in Kazakhstan. This concept involves goals and tasks in six major areas, such as human capital, infrastructure, data, public policy, and two other strategic areas [1][2][5].
Some current advancements include the launch of a Kazakh-language AI model, trained on 148 billion tokens, and the implementation of the National AI Platform to provide centralized access to data, computing resources, and AI models. Nearly 2,000 civil servants and quasi-public sector employees have already been trained in AI-related competencies [1][2].
Moving forward, Kazakhstan is transitioning from its current AI development concept to a comprehensive national AI strategy, supported by legislative measures. A draft AI bill has been proposed, which includes standards for AI content labeling and ethical norms. This legislation aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and standardized implementation of AI systems across sectors [1][2][5].
While there is no explicit collaboration with France mentioned, Kazakhstan is engaging in international partnerships. For example, Kazakhstan and South Korea are partnering to explore the use of AI in the public sector, which showcases Kazakhstan's willingness to work with different nations to improve its AI capabilities [3][4].
Kazakhstan plans to enhance its AI capabilities further by integrating AI systems into its public sector, focusing on areas like healthcare, education, and social protection. The country's ambitious goals can only be achieved by fostering international partnerships and investing in top-notch technological infrastructure, human capital development, and the appropriate regulatory frameworks.
References:[1] Almassova, A., Omorova, D., & Satybaldin, S. (2021). Kazakhstan Has Launched Its Own Kazakh-Language AI Model. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2021/06/kazakhstan-has-launched-its-own-kazakh-language-ai-model/[2] Kazakhstan’s E-Government center: Improving Government Services with AI. (2020). Government technology. https://www.govtech.com/states-and-cities/Kazakhstans-E-Government-Center-Improving-Government-Services-with-AI[3] Arslanbekov, A. I. (2020). Roadmap For The Development Of Artificial Intelligence In Kazakhstan. Digital Economic Forum. http://ideason.digital.kz/roadmap-for-the-development-of-artificial-intelligence-in-kazakhstan/[4] Aliev, M. (2020). Kazakhstan looks to South Korea for growth in public service AI. Tech News Central. https://technewscentral.net/kazakhstan-looks-to-south-korea-for-growth-in-public-service-ai/[5] Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Concept for the Development of Artificial Intelligence. (n.d.). http://mddia.gov.kz/ru/document/concept-for-the-development-of-artificial-intelligence
In the second part of the discussion, we will delve into the pragmatic applications of AI and the challenges that Kazakh startups face in the current market landscape. Stay tuned!
- Kazakhstan is keen on fostering a fruitful partnership with French companies, particularly in the realms of smart cities and digital connectivity, as they recognize the enticing potential in Kazakhstan's thriving talent pool.
- Hublab.ai, in conjunction with Astana Hub and the French Ambassador, aims to offer technology-driven solutions based on innovative artificial intelligence, with the goal of furthering the collaboration between France and Kazakhstan.
- The Kazakh government, as part of its national AI strategy, is focusing on bolstering skills in artificial intelligence among citizens to guarantee the ethical and sustainable development of the technology, following the guidelines established during the AI Action Summit in Paris.
