NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang emphasized that Kazakhstan possesses the necessary components to transform into a leading global hub in the field of "Physical AI," capitalizing on its abundant energy sources and specialized human talent in science and technology. This came during his first visit to the Kazakh capital, Astana, to discuss prospects for technical cooperation and computing infrastructure.
Huang participated in a panel discussion hosted by the "Astana Hub" at the Alem.AI International AI Center, moderated by Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Jaslan Madiyev. Both sides reviewed the strategic role of artificial intelligence in enhancing economic competitiveness and building new industrial sectors beyond traditional software development and digital products.
Converting Energy into Exported Computing Capabilities
The NVIDIA CEO explained that building and operating artificial intelligence systems requires three main elements: reliable energy, big data, and supercomputing capacity. He noted that Kazakhstan can redraw its economic strategy by converting its natural wealth and energy resources into added technological value, rather than being limited to exporting raw energy.
Huang stated in this regard: "In the future, countries can do more than just export energy; they can convert that energy within their borders into artificial intelligence processing capabilities, and then export these computing capabilities to the world."
Data Sovereignty and Local Modeling
Huang stressed the concept of digital sovereignty, pointing out the importance of nations processing their own national data, as data reflects culture, history, and societal values, making it a strategic asset that should not be compromised. He noted that utilizing open-source technologies and adapting them to local languages and cultures grants countries greater independence in building their technical infrastructure.
Huang believes that Kazakhstan has an exceptional opportunity in this field thanks to its strong talent base in mathematics, science, and engineering, which qualifies it to develop physical AI models applicable in robotics, industrial automation, and smart devices.
Presidential Honors and Practical Partnerships
On the sidelines of the visit, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, received the NVIDIA CEO at the Akorda Presidential Palace. Tokayev praised the company's role in supporting the country's artificial intelligence ecosystem and digital transformation, affirming that the development of advanced technology is at the forefront of Kazakhstan's national priorities.
For his part, Huang praised the rapid development of the partnership between NVIDIA and Kazakh tech companies over the past year, as well as the government's commitment to making technology a core driver of development. To crown these efforts, President Tokayev awarded Jensen Huang the First-Class "Dostyk" (Friendship) Order in appreciation of his contributions to developing the country's artificial intelligence sector.
Why This News Matters
This statement reflects a tangible shift in the technological strategies of resource-rich countries, moving from the concept of "energy export" to "computing localization" and turning energy sources into artificial intelligence data processing centers. It also highlights NVIDIA's increasing focus on the concept of "Physical AI," which is the next generation connecting smart models to physical systems such as robotics and automated factories, making Central Asian markets a new arena for building regional computing infrastructures.