The goal of the AI center is to transform Kazakhstan into an AI-driven nation, fostering innovation and technological development in all aspects of the country's social and economic life. alem.ai is focused on advancing AI technologies in key sectors, such as science, industry, creative industries, and government services. The center will also play a pivotal role in developing an AI ecosystem that attracts investment and supports startups.

The creation of the center is expected to increase Kazakhstan's AI solution exports to $5 billion by 2029, drive a new wave of technological and economic growth through AI development, and position Astana as the leading AI technology hub in Central Asia.

As part of the project, the center plans to attract approximately 10,000 talents annually across various industries, train at least 1,000 AI specialists, launch around 100 AI startups, and conduct around 10 scientific research projects in the AI field.

The first floor of the center will feature a public space for forums and public lectures on AI achievements, providing a platform for knowledge exchange among developers, students, scientists, and experts from various fields. It will also house an AI museum and host job fairs in the AI sector, where companies can present job offers. Regular hackathons and startup competitions will be organized to attract investors and partners for further development.

The second and third floors will accommodate the TUMO School, which targets students in grades 9–12. Over 42,000 students in Astana could potentially join the program, which focuses on programming, robotics, and other creative technologies aimed at fostering innovative thinking and preparing students for successful careers in the IT field. The second floor features classrooms with 206 seats, while the third floor provides an additional 348 seats. The building also includes spaces for group lessons, conference rooms, and labs for practical projects.

The fourth and fifth floors will house Tomorrow School, Kazakhstan’s first peer-to-peer AI school, launched by the Astana Hub technopark in October 2024. Tomorrow School operates exclusively on the 01 Edu platform and offers unique opportunities for free AI education, with no prior programming experience required. More than 5,000 applications were submitted for the first and second intake periods. Of the initial 120 students, only 30% were selected for the core AI training. Currently, 190 students are enrolled in the second intake. The center plans to further expand its AI education programs.

The sixth floor will be dedicated to an AI campus, focusing on startup acceleration. The plan includes launching new AI startups each year by supporting innovation, developing cutting-edge technologies, and building a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Currently, the Astana Hub ecosystem hosts over 1,500 participants, including 150 AI-driven startups. The tech park has launched a specialized acceleration program called AI’Preneurs, which brings together top specialists from various fields to form startup teams and develop innovative AI solutions.

The program is an intensive four-month process where participants go through all stages, from team formation and idea generation to startup creation and market launch. In the first batch, 250 applications were submitted, and 50 talented developers, engineers, managers, and entrepreneurs were selected. Participants launched 21 AI startups, nine of which successfully completed the acceleration program. Seven of the top teams secured funding through the Seed Money program.

The seventh floor will be dedicated to research laboratories that will conduct scientific research, supporting the development and advancement of AI innovations through various projects. The eighth floor will host GovTech solutions and a situation center for analyzing and managing government processes.

Minister Zhaslan Madiyev noted that negotiations are currently underway to house offices of companies such as Telegram, TON, Tether, Indrive, Google, and others in the center to conduct research and develop new AI products. Today, large international companies such as Playrix, TikTok, inDrive, EPAM, Glovo, DAMUMED, and Presight.ai are already based at the Astana Hub infrastructure.

The head of state has approved the concept of creating the AI center within the existing EXPO ecosystem. For seven years, NUR Alem served as an exhibition center and delighted its visitors. Now, it’s time to give this project new energy for the future – to foster the development of AI.

The center is slated to open in 2025, covering an area of 20,000 m², and will be integrated into the existing EXPO ecosystem. It will become a crucial element in the development of the AI industry in Kazakhstan, supporting research, the creation of AI products, and attracting investment in AI technologies.