Nvidia's Huang heads to Kazakhstan for the first time — and he's not the only one with big plans

CHOLPON-ATA, KYRGYZSTAN - SEPTEMBER 06: The Kazakhstan flag is shown before the finals of Kok-boruFinals against Kyrgyzstan during the World Nomad Games at the Hippodrome Racetrack on September 6, 2026 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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Kazakhstan may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the global artificial intelligence boom, but several Big Tech companies have taken interest — including Nvidia.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who made his first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday, said the country could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe, pointing to its energy resources and plans to expand data center capacity.

Sitting in a fireside chat in Astana with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan's deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development, Huang highlighted the country's role.

It's going to be a hub, a computing hub, an AI factory hub for all of Europe.

Jensen Huang

CEO, Nvidia

He also emphasized the importance of countries developing their own AI capabilities, saying nations should have the infrastructure to deliver AI services domestically, while adapting the technology to their own languages and cultures.

The visit comes as Kazakhstan seeks to attract billions of dollars in technology investment and position itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.

Kazakhstan's multibillion-dollar AI ambitions

Kazakhstan has made AI a national priority, declaring 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence as part of a broader effort to develop its digital economy.

In June, Kazakhstan's government announced plans for a $10 billion AI infrastructure investment in partnership with U.S.-based AI cloud company Firebird, aimed at building a computing cluster powered by 100,000 advanced GPUs, including Nvidia chips.

Other international companies have also announced plans to invest in Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure.