US or China? Why Kazakhstan refuses to pick sides as it eyes AI revolution
Driving along the wide boulevards of Astana during a recent trip to the Kazakh capital, signs of China’s growing commercial footprint were everywhere. Chinese cars were becoming a common sight on the streets here, as brands from BYD to Changan made aggressive inroads in a market once dominated by South Korea’s Hyundai and Kia, said the driver who picked me up from the airport in a gleaming…
In the Kazakh capital of Astana, signs of China's expanding commercial influence are apparent, with Chinese vehicles now commonplace on the city's thoroughfares. However, the focus of the reporter's journey was not Chinese technology, but rather the presence of an American titan. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was in Kazakhstan to partake in a discussion about "sovereign AI" and its potential to shape the nation's future.
This high-profile visit highlighted Astana's ambition to establish itself as a regional computing center. Kazakhstan's abundant electricity supply presents an opportunity to capitalize on the global artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia CEO Huang has often described AI as a new industrial revolution, envisioning data centers as "AI factories" that transform electricity into digital intelligence.
Kazakhstan's economic prospects are promising, as the nation can potentially become a hub for selling computing power instead of the traditional consumer goods that fueled China's manufacturing boom. The government-backed technology and start-up platform, Astana Hub, is fostering local engineering talent and nurturing domestic tech firms.
Initiatives like Tomorrow School and TUMO Astana provide hands-on education in AI, robotics, and digital creativity for students. Despite the allure of AI, developing a competitive knowledge economy requires years of investment in talent, business ecosystems, and innovation. Kazakhstan, situated between China and the United States, finds itself in the crosshairs of both technological and geopolitical influences.
While Chinese cars populate its streets and American chips propel its digital ambitions, Astana is striving to maintain a delicate balance by leveraging both superpowers. This strategic maneuver mirrors a similar approach taken by India, which seeks to strengthen economic ties with both China and the United States while nurturing its own technological capabilities.
Written by urgent.news from SCMP Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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