Tokayev orders government to speed AI pilot projects into industrial use

October 2, 2026 at 04:13 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government on October 2 to create a unified mechanism for moving industrial AI projects from pilot testing to commercial deployment. He said many promising solutions stall after pilots due to repeated approvals, procurement hurdles, and regulatory restrictions. The directive came at the third meeting of the AI Development Council.

Key Facts

Tokayev issued the directive at the third meeting of the AI Development Council on October 2.
The government must create a single mechanism covering team selection, testing, and assessment of economic effect for industrial AI projects.
Tokayev said many successful pilot projects stall due to additional approvals, repeated tests, complex procurement procedures, and regulatory restrictions.
The AI-Sana programme should be more closely tied to real industrial tasks so young talent gains practical experience in modernising the economy.
Tokayev called for active use of the AI Challenge mechanism to attract digital nomads and talented youth.

The Directive

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government to create a unified mechanism for solving industrial AI tasks, from selecting a suitable team to testing and assessing economic effect. The instruction was given on October 2 at the third meeting of the AI Development Council. Tokayev stressed the need for a clear and optimal mechanism for scaling proven solutions. He said there is no need to repeat the full test cycle at every enterprise if similar production conditions exist.

Pilot Project Bottlenecks

Tokayev said many promising solutions successfully pass the pilot stage but then stall due to additional approvals, repeated tests, excessively complex procurement procedures, and regulatory restrictions. This delays economic returns for enterprises and limits market opportunities for developers. He recommended that the government develop a mechanism to accelerate the transition from successful industrial pilot projects to commercial deployment and further scaling. Special attention should be given to domestic solutions that have demonstrated their effectiveness.

Team Building and AI Challenge

Tokayev said it is crucial to promote industrial DeepTech projects and form strong technology teams that unite representatives of the scientific community, technology companies, and the startup ecosystem. He called for active use of the AI Challenge mechanism, attracting digital nomads and talented youth. The format should be adapted to the specifics of each task, from open team selection and task formulation to testing solutions in real production conditions. Teams must receive access to necessary data, computing resources, and production infrastructure, while the customer remains involved at every stage. Tokayev said the AI-Sana programme should be more closely tied to real industrial tasks so young talents gain practical experience in modernising the economy.