Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the world is undergoing a profound transformation. He noted that Kazakhstan is building a fully digital state in line with the demands of a new era.
According to the President, the Artificial Intelligence University will open in Astana this autumn. The capital will also host an international film festival featuring movies created with the help of neural networks.
“Declaring 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence clearly reflects our choice in favor of a digital future. As a society, we must work together to achieve this strategic goal,” Tokayev said.
The President also announced that next year Astana will host the World Esports Championship under the auspices of the International Esports Federation. He stressed that this is only one of many large-scale projects planned for the country.
“Today, our beloved capital is hosting a truly unique event. It is a combination of sport and intellect, as well as a competition between physical strength and intellectual potential. As it turns out, these two qualities do not contradict each other; on the contrary, they complement one another. This is the profound philosophical meaning behind the upcoming contests,” Tokayev said as he officially declared the Games open.