
Will 2026 mark Kazakhstan’s real transition from AI pilots to a digital state?
After rapid AI institution-building in 2025, Kazakhstan faces a turning point. Adoption has accelerated, but most use cases remain experimental, and experts warn that without core infrastructure — IPv6, real 5G, data centers, and affordable data access—AI won’t scale beyond pilots. 2026 is a make-or-break year, requiring a shift from testing imported tools to building domestic, data-driven AI systems. Success will hinge on infrastructure, data quality, regulation, and business adoption — not new models.
Conditions
Resolves “Yes” if by the end of 2026 Kazakhstan demonstrates clear systemic progress toward a digital state — such as nationwide IPv6 rollout milestones, functional 5G deployment in major cities, expanded access to national AI computing infrastructure, and measurable integration of AI into core government or industrial processes — as confirmed by official government releases and major media. Otherwise — No.
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