More than 150 organizations from Kazakhstan and the region will participate in the AI Leaders 2026 training program.

As part of the implementation of the Head of State’s directive on systematic digitalization and the integration of artificial intelligence into all sectors of the economy, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development has launched the flagship educational program AI Leaders 2026 in partnership with Stanford University’s research center for human-centered artificial intelligence — Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the educational platform of ChatGPT developer OpenAI — OpenAI Academy, and the international hub in Silicon Valley — Silkroad Innovation Hub.

This is the largest corporate program for training AI leaders, created for the Central Eurasian region at the intersection of academic expertise and practical application, enabling the development of management competencies in demand amid global AI transformation. In addition to the main organizers, project partners include the Lovable and CAYU platforms, which provide opportunities for developing AI agents and digital solutions, as well as the Institute for Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University.

The academic director of the program is Peter Norvig — Professor at Stanford University HAI, author of the world’s leading AI bestseller, former Director of Google Research, and current member of the Expert Council on AI Development under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Under his leadership, the curriculum has been fully adapted to the specifics of our region.

Training began on April 8 and includes more than 30 hours of instruction in the format of intensive live sessions, accompanied by simultaneous translation into Kazakh, Uzbek, and Russian, ensuring access to cutting-edge knowledge for a wide audience.

The training is structured according to a targeted model: companies participate in teams, enabling comprehensive development of competencies at key management levels — from middle to senior leadership. Within the framework of this program, each organization will develop its own AI strategy focused on specific business tasks and processes. This is especially important in the context of the Head of State’s task to systematically integrate AI into all key sectors of the economy. In these conditions, it is crucial that the largest companies and institutions move from testing individual tools to forming comprehensive AI strategies with a clear understanding of the expected impact.

Among the participants are leaders of approximately 150 of the region’s largest organizations, representatives of the state and quasi-state sectors, including national holding companies “Samruk-Kazyna,” “Baiterek,” and the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as leading economic entities: Halyk Bank, Freedom Holding, Kaspi.kz, BI Group, Astana Motors, Beeline, Kcell, Bazis-A, “Kazmining,” Transtelecom, Lancaster Group, and others.

The training methodology is based on a three-stage preparation system that allows companies to progressively move from understanding AI to its practical implementation. First, participants build an academic foundation together with Stanford University HAI, studying the basic principles of AI, technology limitations, and their impact on business processes and management. Then, they transition to working with AI tools through OpenAI Academy — mastering prompt engineering, model usage, and applying AI in real-world tasks. The final stage focuses on AI agents and applied solutions: together with CAYU and Lovable, teams learn to develop and implement AI systems in business and key industries.

Through programs like this, we are forming a global community of leaders equipped with the competencies necessary to manage AI transformation and ensure sustainable economic and social development. The program brings together participants from different countries, expanding the horizons of cooperation. Among the program’s attendees are representatives from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Qatar.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an official certificate from Stanford University HAI and become part of the largest AI community in Central Eurasia.