Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The international AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum has opened in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, bringing together more than 150 speakers from Kazakhstan and abroad, including representatives of technology companies, investment funds, academia and government agencies.
The forum is the central international event of AI Month, which is being held in Kazakhstan from 23 September to 23 October as part of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.
The participants include prominent entrepreneurs, investors and executives from international technology companies.
Among them are Balaji Srinivasan, former chief technology officer of Coinbase and founder of Network School; Erzhan Dulat, co-founder and chief technology officer of Higgsfield AI; Rev Lebaredian, NVIDIA vice president for Physical AI and Simulation; David Ripley, CEO of cryptocurrency platform Kraken; William Ford, head of General Atlantic; and Kai-Fu Lee, founder of Sinovation Ventures and 01.AI.
The forum also features Dream co-founder and president Sebastian Kurz, former federal chancellor of Austria; former Utah governor and former US ambassador to China and Russia Jon Huntsman; as well as representatives of other international companies and investment organisations.
Kazakhstan is represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhtelecom Chairman Bagdat Mussin and Freedom Holding Corp. founder Timur Turlov.
The main focus of the forum is on artificial intelligence, computing capacity, digital infrastructure and financial technologies. The programme also covers investment, talent development, technology entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, satellite communications, blockchain, robotics and the use of AI in physical systems.
The special programme on 1 October includes the participation of the head of state and international delegations. Access to events on that day is by invitation.
The forum will continue in an open format on 2 and 3 October. Visitors will be able to attend thematic sessions on artificial intelligence, investment, talent and creative industries, as well as events for representatives of the gaming industry.
The programme also includes a technology exhibition, the Startup Alley platform and the Astana Hub Battle competition.
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is organised by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Astana Hub and the Akimat of Astana.
According to the organisers, the forum has brought together participants from more than 100 countries over the years. More than 127,000 people have attended its events, around 1,500 speakers have taken part and 600 startups and 500 investors have been represented.
