Kazakhstan's national wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, has appointed an artificial intelligence system to its board of directors, granting it voting rights. The move, a first for Central Asia, integrates the AI, known as SKAI, into the governance of the fund, which manages approximately $81 billion in national assets.
The announcement was made at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum in Astana, positioning the initiative as a major step in the country's national digital transformation strategy. The AI is designed to analyze vast amounts of corporate data to improve decision-making and transparency.
Key Takeaways
- An AI system named SKAI has been appointed as a voting member of the board of directors for Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund.
- SKAI operates on a domestic language model and is housed on a secure national supercomputer to ensure data sovereignty.
- The initiative is part of Kazakhstan's broader strategy to become a fully digital nation within three years, which includes new AI-focused legislation and institutions.
- The AI will analyze corporate documents and board decisions dating back to 2008 to provide data-driven insights for governance.
A Digital Member Joins the Board
In a significant development for corporate governance in Central Asia, an artificial intelligence system has been given a formal role in overseeing a major state-owned enterprise. The system, named Samruk-Kazyna Artificial Intelligence (SKAI), was officially introduced as an independent board member with decision-making powers.
According to Samruk-Kazyna, SKAI's primary function is to analyze extensive internal data. This includes all board decisions made since the fund's inception in 2008, internal and external regulations, and other corporate documentation. The goal is to enhance the quality and transparency of corporate governance through data-backed insights.
Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna, described the integration of AI into the fund's leadership as a pivotal moment for the organization.
"Technology and people are beginning to make decisions together. Digitalization is moving beyond processes; it’s becoming part of leadership philosophy," Zhakupov stated at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum. He referred to the development as a "quantum leap" in governance.
Technical Framework and Security Measures
Ensuring the security of sensitive national asset data was a central component of SKAI's development. The system operates within a closed-loop network, isolated from public internet access to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
SKAI is powered by the Al Farabium supercomputer, which is owned by Kazakhtelecom, one of the fund's portfolio companies. This supercomputer is recognized as Kazakhstan's most powerful, utilizing advanced hardware from NVIDIA to support the demanding computational needs of the AI.
Data Sovereignty
SKAI runs on Alem LLM, a large language model specifically trained on Kazakh data. This domestic approach ensures that all sensitive corporate information is processed within Kazakhstan's borders, preventing data from being transmitted internationally and maintaining national data sovereignty.
By using a local language model and infrastructure, Samruk-Kazyna aims to build a secure and self-reliant AI ecosystem for its governance tasks. The AI is scheduled to participate in upcoming board meetings, where its analytical input will be formally considered alongside that of its human counterparts.
Part of a National Digital Strategy
The appointment of SKAI is not an isolated event but a key component of Kazakhstan's ambitious national agenda. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has publicly stated a clear objective for the country's technological future.
"We have set a clear objective: Kazakhstan must become a truly digital nation within three years. This is an ambitious task," President Tokayev announced during his address at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum. This vision is supported by a series of concrete institutional and legislative actions.
Building an AI Ecosystem
To support its digital goals, Kazakhstan has recently established several key bodies and initiatives:
- Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development: A new government ministry created in 2025 to oversee the national strategy.
- AI Council: The first of its kind in the region, established to guide AI policy and ethics.
- New Legislation: The government is currently drafting a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Law and a comprehensive Digital Code to regulate AI's role in society.
- Educational Institutions: Plans were announced for Kazakhstan's first AI-focused university and the Alem.ai International Center for Artificial Intelligence.
President Tokayev emphasized the importance of ethical development, describing the new Alem.ai center as a "historic step" that will serve as a hub for responsible AI implementation in Central Asia. He also confirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to participating in global AI governance discussions under the United Nations framework.
The Role of Samruk-Kazyna
Samruk-Kazyna was established in 2008 to manage Kazakhstan's national assets and drive economic modernization. With the Government of Kazakhstan as its sole shareholder, the fund plays a critical role in the national economy. Its assets are valued at approximately $81 billion.
The fund's leadership includes Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Nurlan Zhakupov as the Chairman of the Management Board. The decision to place an AI on its board underscores the fund's mandate to pioneer modern governance and operational efficiency.
By adopting AI at the highest level of decision-making, Samruk-Kazyna is setting a precedent for how state-owned enterprises can leverage technology to improve oversight and strategic planning. This initiative will be closely watched by other nations exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and public sector management.
