The international forum on artificial intelligence, AI & Digital Bridge 2026, has kicked off in Astana.

On October 1, the international technology forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026 kicked off in Astana — the central international event of AI MONTH, held as part of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan.

As part of the international IT forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the exhibition of promising projects in the field of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and robotics.

The head of state was presented with the AI-Enabled University model, implemented at Qazaq AI Research University, which is the first specialized research university in the field of artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan and the first AI-Enabled university in Central Asia. 

Also presented were the digital service Trusted Kazakhstan, the ALFA project for implementing AI in the education of rural small-scale schools, and new features of the national messenger Aitu.

Solutions from the Samruk-Kazyna group in the field of artificial intelligence were demonstrated separately, including a digital twin of a deposit and the Smart Diagnostics project.

Additionally, Higgsfield.ai technologies for creating video content using generative AI and the Data Center Valley project for creating the largest cluster of data centers and AI infrastructure in Central Asia were presented.

The presented developments are aimed at the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence in various sectors of the economy and public administration, supporting domestic digital infrastructure, and strengthening Kazakhstan's position as a regional technology hub.

The key positioning of the forum this year is that Kazakhstan is the Eurasian center of artificial intelligence — Kazakhstan is the Eurasian AI Hub.  It reflects Kazakhstan's course towards developing its own technological ecosystem, attracting international expertise and investments, training specialists, and creating conditions for the development of AI companies.

This agenda continued at the key event of the first day of the forum — a plenary session with the participation of the Head of State, where the development of artificial intelligence and the digital economy was considered within nine subsequent technological transformations of Kazakhstan. 

International speakers representing the global technology industry also participated in the program:

— Rev Lebaradyan, Vice President of Physical AI Simulation, NVIDIA

— Bill Ford, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, General Atlantic

— Balaji Srinivasan, Founder of Network School

— Greg Wheeler, Founder, CEO, and Chief Architect, E-Space, and others.

Also, one of the central events of the first day was the official opening of Qazaq Artificial Intelligence Research University, QAIRU — a new research university where artificial intelligence becomes the foundation of the educational and research environment. The creation of QAIRU is aimed at training specialists and developing the research base for Kazakhstan's new technological economy.

The Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhaslan Khasenovych Madiev, participated in the opening ceremony. 

The special program of the first day concluded with bilateral meetings dedicated to the development of international technological cooperation and new joint initiatives.

The first day of AI & Digital Bridge outlined the main directions of the forum's technological agenda: the development of the AI industry and computing infrastructure, human capital, and technological entrepreneurship, attracting investments, and expanding international partnerships.

The main program of AI & Digital Bridge 2026 will continue on October 2-3 and will be available to ticket holders. It will bring together international experts, technology companies, investors, startups, and developers.

The center of the program is artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure, venture investments and digital finance, technological entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, human capital development, GameDev and creative industries, as well as the application of AI in business and public administration.

AI & Digital Bridge is becoming a platform for discussing not only the development of individual technologies but also broader issues: where new AI companies will be created, how to attract capital and talent, develop technological infrastructure, and form new centers of the digital economy.

For Kazakhstan, the forum continues to position the country as a Eurasian AI hub and a platform for international technological cooperation.