The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University, Astana, has unveiled ISSAI KAZ-LLM, a groundbreaking large language model (LLM) tailored for the Kazakh language and designed to support Kazakhstan’s multilingual environment. Built on advanced neural network technology, the model facilitates seamless communication in Kazakh, Russian, and English, with added support for Turkish, setting a new standard for generative AI in resource-limited languages.
ISSAI KAZ-LLM represents a significant milestone in Kazakhstan’s AI journey. The development team processed over 150 billion tokens to ensure high-performance capabilities, while fostering local expertise by involving Kazakhstani researchers in every stage of the project. Collaboration with international institutions allowed for the creation of language-specific datasets and state-of-the-art machine translation techniques, enabling applications in translation, content generation, and text processing.
The model comes in two versions, featuring 8 billion and 70 billion parameters, built on the Meta Llama architecture and optimized for high-performance and resource-constrained environments. Released under a CC-BY-NC license, ISSAI KAZ-LLM is available for non-commercial use on the Hugging Face platform.
This model underscores Kazakhstan’s dedication to innovation, self-reliance, and the expansion of its technological ecosystem
– said Prof. Hussain Atakan Varol, ISSAI’s director. The initiative also sets the stage for next-generation AI systems, including language-vision models and expanded support for Turkic and regional languages, enhancing regional ties and promoting linguistic integration.
Kazakhstan’s AI ambitions extend further with the forthcoming launch of the International Center for Artificial Intelligence, alem.ai, aimed at transforming the nation into an AI-driven economy. By fostering innovation, attracting investments, and nurturing startups, the center positions Kazakhstan as a leader in the regional AI landscape.
With AI exports expected to reach $5 billion by 2029, and ISSAI KAZ-LLM marking a major step forward, Kazakhstan continues to solidify its role as a pioneer in Central Asia’s technological evolution—all achieved without government funding, relying on substantial contributions from Kazakhstani IT companies.
