Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Kazakhstan will launch AI MONTH 2026, a large-scale programme dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital technologies, on 23 September.
The programme will bring together the technology community, businesses, educational institutions, startups, international experts and regional initiatives from across the country.
The centrepiece of the programme will be the international technology forum AI & Digital Bridge 2026, which will take place in Astana from 1 to 3 October. This year, AI Week has been transformed into AI MONTH as the number and geographic reach of artificial intelligence initiatives have expanded.
The programme will open on 23 September with HackAlem AI powered by OpenAI. Teams of up to three participants will develop agentic AI solutions for 10 key sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy, with mandatory use of Codex and the OpenAI API.
The hackathon will offer US$1.1 million in combined prizes and technology resources, including cash prizes, API tokens and OpenAI technology resources.
The winners of HackAlem AI will be awarded on the main stage of AI & Digital Bridge 2026. Developers, students, young professionals, startups and IT enthusiasts will be eligible to participate.
An international cybersecurity conference, KazHackStan, will take place in Astana on 29–30 September. More than 100 regional and international speakers will discuss DevSecOps, OSINT, data protection, malware analysis and new cyber threats associated with the development of artificial intelligence.
During the same period, the international C5+1 platform dedicated to cooperation between Central Asian countries and the United States in artificial intelligence will be held. Participants will discuss AI regulation, infrastructure development, workforce training and international technology partnerships.
The investment agenda will continue with the LP Summit for LP and VC investors. It will bring together institutional investors, venture and sovereign funds, corporations and family offices.
Another focus will be AI and MedTech Day, dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Experts, doctors, developers and startups will discuss AI applications in diagnostics and healthcare management, as well as the development of new MedTech solutions.
The programme will also feature a humanoid robotics hackathon organized around Unitree robots. Teams will program Unitree G1 robots provided by the organizers and solve practical tasks without using simulators.
From 1 to 3 October, Astana will host the Astana AI Film Festival, dedicated to the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. The programme will include screenings of AI-assisted films, professional discussions and workshops on the use of technology in directing, visual style, storytelling, character creation, special effects and voiceovers.
AI MONTH will also include international robotics competitions, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST LEGO League, a UNICEF foresight session on the impact of AI on the future of children and young people, as well as technology events for businesses.
The main international platform of the programme will be AI & Digital Bridge 2026. The forum will bring together technology company executives, business founders, scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, startups and representatives of international organizations. The programme will focus on artificial intelligence, technology entrepreneurship, investment, human capital development and the digital economy.
On 1 October, a special high-level programme will be held with the participation of senior government officials, international delegations and representatives of the technology industry. Participation in events on that day will be by special invitation.
The open programme of the forum will take place on 2–3 October.
Confirmed speakers include NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian, Network School founder Balaji Srinivasan, Sinovation Ventures and 01.AI founder Kai-Fu Lee, E-Space founder and CEO Greg Wyler, General Atlantic Chairman and CEO William Ford, Dream co-founder and President Sebastian Kurz, Oxford Insights co-founder and CEO Richard Stirling, Financial Times correspondent Eleanor Olcott, Higgsfield AI co-founder and CTO Yerzat Dulat, Crimson Education founder Jamie Beaton, MA7 Ventures founder Murat Abdrakhmanov, Kazakhtelecom Chairman of the Board Bagdat Mussin and Choco Holding co-founder Ramil Mukhoryapov.
AI MONTH will take place not only in Astana. Throughout the month, events dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital technologies will be organized at technology hubs across Kazakhstan. The programme will include workshops, bootcamps, hackathons, career meetings, pitch sessions and startup battles.
Schoolchildren, students, teachers, developers, entrepreneurs, startup teams and specialists interested in learning and applying artificial intelligence in practice will be able to participate. Current dates, venues and registration details for regional events are available on the Astana Hub platform.
The programme will conclude with the Grand Final of the alem.ai Battle, an AI competition organized by Astana Hub. The final will bring together leading teams and young talents from Kazakhstan and Central Asia, with participants presenting their projects in four categories.
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Astana Hub and the Akimat of Astana. Partners of AI MONTH include Freedom Bank, Kaspi.kz, Samruk-Kazyna, Halyk Bank and Beeline Kazakhstan.
Firebird AI KZ Ltd. is the official partner of HackAlem AI.
Tickets for the open programme of AI & Digital Bridge 2026, which will take place on 2–3 October, are available on the forum’s official website.
