Kazakhstan has established a new government body — the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The decree was signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on September 18.
The new ministry emerged from the reorganization of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry. Its innovation-related functions will now be transferred to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to redistribute staff between government agencies and their subordinate organizations.
Tokayev first announced plans to establish the ministry in his September 8 address to the nation, recalling that Kazakhstan must adapt its governance system to a new technological era. He stressed the need for greater transparency, efficiency, and a stronger human-centered approach in public administration.
According to the president, the ministry will be led by an official at the rank of deputy prime minister. Its primary mission will be the integration of artificial intelligence to modernize the economy. As part of the initiative, the government will develop a unified Digital Qazaqstan concept to consolidate all digital projects into a national strategy.
Globally, similar institutions already exist. In 2017, the United Arab Emirates became the first country to establish a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Albania went a step further by appointing an AI-powered virtual model as its new Minister of Public Procurement. Named Diella, the AI minister is tasked with overseeing government tenders, which officials say will help reduce corruption in state procurement.
