AI Revolution Reaches Boardroom at Samruk-Kazyna
In a groundbreaking move, Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, has appointed an artificial intelligence system to its board of directors. This marks the first time in Central Asia that a neural network has been granted voting rights on the board of a major state-owned entity. The AI, named SKAI (Samruk-Kazyna Artificial Intelligence), was unveiled at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana and is being hailed as a leap forward in corporate governance and digital transformation.
Introducing SKAI: A New Era of Digital Governance
SKAI is a cutting-edge AI system developed using a domestic large language model tailored to the Kazakh language. According to Samruk-Kazyna officials, SKAI has full access to internal and external regulatory frameworks, board decisions dating back to 2008, and a rich archive of corporate documents. Its primary role is to enhance decision-making through comprehensive data analysis, contributing to higher levels of transparency and strategic insight.
“This represents a quantum leap,” said Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of Samruk-Kazyna’s Management Board. “We are witnessing a new phase where technology and human intellect collaborate at the highest levels of leadership. Digitalization is no longer confined to operational processes—it’s shaping our leadership philosophy.”
Cybersecurity and High-Powered Infrastructure
Security was a core focus during the development of the SKAI system. It operates within a closed network housed on the Al Farabium supercomputer, which is owned by Kazakhtelecom—a portfolio company under Samruk-Kazyna. This advanced computing system, built with NVIDIA hardware, is Kazakhstan’s most powerful supercomputing infrastructure.
SKAI runs on the Alem LLM (Large Language Model), trained exclusively on Kazakhstan-based data. This ensures that all sensitive governmental and corporate data remains within national borders, minimizing cybersecurity risks and aligning with the country’s data sovereignty goals.
The AI is scheduled to participate in upcoming board meetings, aligning with Samruk-Kazyna’s broader digital transformation efforts aimed at reinforcing ethical AI governance and operational efficiency.
A National Strategy for a Digital Future
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of AI at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum, declaring that Kazakhstan aspires to become a fully digital nation within three years. “We have set a clear objective: Kazakhstan must become a truly digital nation within three years. This is an ambitious task,” Tokayev stated.
The initiative to integrate SKAI into the boardroom is a key component of this national strategy. The President also expressed Kazakhstan’s intention to play a proactive role in global AI governance, including collaboration with the United Nations and support for China’s proposal to establish an international AI cooperation body.
Institutional Foundations for AI Development
To support its digital ambitions, Kazakhstan established several new institutions in 2025. These include the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and the region’s first AI Council. These bodies are tasked with overseeing the ethical and strategic deployment of AI across various sectors.
Legislative groundwork is also underway. The government is drafting a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Law and a Digital Code to guide AI integration in education, healthcare, and economic planning. One of the most notable developments is the creation of Kazakhstan’s first university dedicated to AI studies, along with the launch of the Alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence.
President Tokayev described the center as a “historic step,” designed to be a hub for ethical technological development and a core institution in Central Asia’s growing tech ecosystem. “Alem.ai will be a place where artificial intelligence technologies are implemented efficiently and ethically,” he said.
About Samruk-Kazyna
Founded in 2008, Samruk-Kazyna plays a central role in managing Kazakhstan’s national assets and driving economic modernization. The fund’s assets are currently valued at approximately $81 billion. It is wholly owned by the Government of Kazakhstan, with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Nurlan Zhakupov as Chairman of the Management Board.
The integration of SKAI into its governance structure signals the fund’s commitment to innovation and digital leadership, potentially setting a precedent for other state institutions in the region and beyond.
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