On May 28, 2026, a panel session titled “Artificial Intelligence and the New Paradigm of Competition: A Threat or a Driver for the Development of Cross-Border Markets in the EAEU?” was held in Astana as part of the Eurasian Economic Forum. The event was organized by the Eurasian Economic Commission jointly with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Participants discussed the impact of
artificial intelligence technologies on market transformation, the development
of digital ecosystems, and changes in approaches to antitrust regulation in the
context of the new digital economy.
Today, AI is changing not only
business models but also the very logic of competition. Algorithms allow
companies to analyze markets faster, optimize processes, forecast demand, and
scale services. At the same time, new challenges are emerging: closed digital
ecosystems, algorithmic pricing, data concentration, and risks of restricting competition.
During the session, it was noted
that Kazakhstan is consistently building a full-fledged national artificial
intelligence ecosystem — from digital infrastructure and computing capacity to
workforce training, legislative frameworks, and international cooperation.
Today, Kazakhstan holds a leading
position in Central Asia in terms of digital development and readiness to
implement artificial intelligence. In 2025, the country ranked 58th out of 195
states in the Global AI Readiness Index and also became one of the world
leaders in e-government development: 24th place in the UN E-Government
Development Index and 10th place in the UN Online Services Index.
A key foundation for AI
implementation has been the Smart Data Ukimet government platform, which provides
centralized and secure integration of government data. Thanks to this,
Kazakhstan is moving from separate digital services toward building a
data-driven state and systematically integrating AI into public administration.
Great importance is being placed on
creating a modern regulatory environment. The new Law of the Republic of
Kazakhstan “On Artificial Intelligence” is aimed at establishing transparent
and clear rules for the development of the sector, ensuring the protection of
citizens’ rights, and creating a predictable environment for developers and
international investors.
To ensure digital sovereignty,
Kazakhstan is actively developing its own computing infrastructure. The country
already has two high-performance supercomputing clusters based on the latest
NVIDIA H200 chips.
The alem.cloud cluster, focused on
the public sector, universities, and startups, has become the largest
supercomputing cluster in the region and entered the global TOP500 ranking. The
second cluster, AI-Farabi, launched by Kazakhtelecom, is focused on the
corporate sector, the banking industry, and export markets. Its performance
exceeds 103 PFLOPS, which also enabled it to enter the global TOP500 ranking.
In addition, the development of
human capital remains one of Kazakhstan’s priority tasks. The country is
implementing the AI Movement initiative aimed at teaching the population basic
skills for working with artificial intelligence. Tomorrow School, the first
school of artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan, operates on the basis of
Astana Hub, while universities are developing the AI Sana program focused on
building AI competencies and entrepreneurial thinking among students.
Participants in the discussion also
examined international experience in AI regulation, new forms of potentially
anti-competitive practices, the need for algorithmic transparency, and the
development of competencies within antitrust authorities to conduct independent
audits of AI systems.
The parties also discussed how to
balance the protection of competition and consumer rights with the stimulation
of innovation and investment in AI without jeopardizing technological
sovereignty and the security of states.
Participants emphasized that
artificial intelligence remains a powerful driver of economic growth, increased
productivity, and the development of cross-border digital markets.
Kazakhstan confirms its readiness
for active international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence
and advocates for the development of AI based on the principles of trust,
transparency, security, and shared development.
Today, Kazakhstan positions itself
as a regional center for AI innovation and a reliable partner for the global
technological community.
Source: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/maidd/press/news/details/1229607?lang=ru