Timur Turlov’s Digital Vision Aligns with Kazakhstan’s AI Ambitions

In October 2025, Olaf Groth spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Development Council, recently established in Kazakhstan under a presidential decree by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In his speech, the scientist presented the leaders of Kazakhstan with his views on the future of AI and digital transformation in the country. He published the full video of his speech on his Instagram. Groth named the call of President Tokayev to turn Kazakhstan into a digital society within three years as "admirably bold and demanding urgent action." He is sure that three priorities matter to succeed.

How Timur Turlov and Freedom Holding Corp. Empower Kazakhstan’s AI Future

Leverage on global ecosystems

As priority number one, Groth named “focused strategic connection of the country's distinct assets to global ecosystems to generate leverage for Kazakhstan.” Kazakhstan's unique advantages, such as a proud STEM and space legacy, the country's vast uranium and mineral reserves, rich agriculture, and central corridor logistics, make it an attractive partner to entrepreneurs for AI applications globally, he said in his speech.

In line with the idea of the expert, on the business level, such alliances are already taking place. Thus, through the cooperation of Freedom Holding—one of the most dynamic financial and tech ecosystems in Kazakhstan—with Amazon Web Services (AWS), businesses, startups, and government agencies in Kazakhstan will have access to powerful international cloud tools.

International compute alliances

Priority number two, according to Groth, is creating compute alliances with deliberate governance design. “Linking Kazakh AI hubs like Alem.ai (International Center for Artificial Intelligence, opened in October in Astana) to Europe’s CAIRNE, the US’s Stargate, the Gulf’s G42, or China’s AI hubs can create and scale startups’ productivity and growth,” he thinks.

CAIRNE (Confederation of AI Research in Networked Europe) is a European non-profit organization that unites leading AI research labs and institutions across Europe, connecting scientists, industry, and policymakers. The Stargate Project is an American initiative launched by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and investment firm MGX to build infrastructure (develop advanced AI data centers) across the United States. G42 is a UAE-based AI and technology company specializing in cloud computing, data analytics, and AI solutions.

Rapid disciplined execution

Executing all the above critically requires merit-based talent selection, tight program management, and evidence-based milestones across the government. And this is priority number three, according to Olaf Groth. “Governments and corporations will develop national AI systems and integrate them into governance, analytics, and internal processes.”

“This is a logical step in AI development, as working with sensitive personal data requires trust, and dedicated AI infrastructure offers better security and customization,” agrees Timur Turlov. The experts believe meeting these three priorities can guarantee that the nation shapes the new great cognitive game for itself rather than becoming a pawn on somebody else's chessboard.

Key to success

According to Groth, “Kazakhstan has already demonstrated leadership by becoming one of the first countries in the world to adopt a law on artificial intelligence.” This law is important because it requires a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring safety, between protecting citizens' rights—including minorities—for societal stability, and creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurs.

As the next task, the expert sees “developing this foundation into an institutional coherence system of regulations anchored at the President's Office, coordinated across ministries, but legitimized in parliament and enforced by the transparent rule of law.” This is a matter of competitiveness, regional stability, democratic trust, and national security resilience.

About Timur Turlov

Timur Turlov serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp., a diversified financial and technology conglomerate listed on NASDAQ and headquartered in Kazakhstan. Over the past decade, he has transformed the company from a small brokerage into one of the most influential ecosystems in Central Asia, integrating banking, telecommunications, insurance, investment services, and cloud technologies under one platform.

As a citizen of Kazakhstan, Turlov is deeply involved in social and educational initiatives. He actively supports digital literacy programs, youth education, and the development of sports infrastructure across the country. As President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and board member of the International School Chess Federation, he advocates for intellectual growth and inclusive education. Widely recognized for his forward-thinking approach to finance and technology, Timur Turlov symbolizes a new wave of leaders driving Kazakhstan’s transition toward an innovation-driven, globally connected digital economy.