Kazakhstan legalises AI as Tokayev signs new regulatory law

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed the Law “On Artificial Intelligence,” introducing fundamental principles for the operation of AI systems.

Under the new legislation, artificial intelligence systems are defined as objects of informatisation, meaning AI will now be recognised as a tool for achieving specific human objectives, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Kazakh president’s press service (Akorda).

In line with this, the law establishes principles of responsibility and accountability, under which owners, holders and users bear obligations corresponding to their role in operating AI systems.

Owners and holders must manage risks, ensure safety and reliability, and support users regarding system performance.

The legislation also sets out principles of legality, fairness, equality, transparency, explainability, prioritising human well-being, freedom of choice in decision-making, data protection, confidentiality, safety and security.

To protect the rights of individuals and legal entities and uphold public order, the law prohibits the creation and use within Kazakhstan of AI systems that possess certain capabilities — including subconscious, manipulative or similar methods; the collection and processing of personal data in violation of data-protection laws; and other restricted functions.

To ensure transparency of AI-generated outputs, the law introduces mandatory labelling for goods, services and works produced using artificial intelligence.

Reflecting global practice in accelerating AI development, the legislation also establishes the legal foundations for a national AI platform.

This platform will be used for developing, training and testing platform-based software products and AI models over a limited period.

By Jeyhun Aghazada