We spoke with Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub, about the evolving nature of public administration in the age of artificial intelligence.

– Mr. Baimenov, nowadays it’s enough to glance at the news feed to see how AI is rapidly transforming various sectors, reshaping traditional approaches and practices. How is public administration changing under the influence of AI?

– Indeed, AI is becoming an integral part of development, permeating key areas such as public administration, education, healthcare, and more. For instance, the UAE has introduced AI into its school curriculum starting from kindergarten. In the United States, Congress held dedicated hearings with the heads of OpenAI, Microsoft, and other industry leaders to address the impact of AI on the economy, security, and global competition, and to develop appropriate policy responses. UNDP has integrated Copilot AI into its corporate email system, enabling automatic generation of email responses and summarizing texts. In Kazakhstan, the Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) has approved a draft law regulating artificial intelligence.

These examples illustrate that we are already living in a new era – one in which the coexistence of humans and AI demands a rethinking of governance, policymaking, and ethics.

On one hand, artificial intelligence enables governments to deliver faster and higher-quality services by enhancing data analysis and streamlining processes. On the other hand, it is the state that sets the legal, ethical, and institutional frameworks needed for the balanced development of AI.

Modern public administration faces multifaceted challenges. As highlighted in our new book “Public Administration in the New Reality” (2025, Palgrave Macmillan), some of these challenges stem from global trends, while others are shaped by country-specific contexts. The external environment and circumstances are evolving rapidly, and technology continues to unlock new possibilities. In this dynamic landscape, it is becoming increasingly difficult for governments to simultaneously uphold long-term priorities, plan medium-term actions, and respond swiftly to short-term challenges. From this perspective, AI equips governments with new tools and capabilities: it helps analyze vast volumes of data, identify hidden patterns, assess risks, and forecast the outcomes of policy decisions before they are implemented. In addition, automation and advanced monitoring tools enhance accountability and reduce the risks of corruption.

These AI capabilities are already being put into practice across various countries. For instance, the UAE and Canada use AI to analyze public opinion, feedback, and to forecast the potential impact of policy initiatives, enabling more informed and effective decision-making. In the United Kingdom, AI technologies are used to accelerate the processing of citizen responses to public consultations, helping to identify key themes, reduce resource demands, and improve the efficiency of administrative processes. Singapore leverages AI in human resource management, predicting staff turnover, identifying training needs, and planning career trajectories for civil servants. In France, AI is applied to assess social risks. The system analyzes complaints, economic indicators, and social media activity to forecast potential areas of tension, particularly in vulnerable regions. Brazil uses AI platforms to enhance transparency in public procurement, while South Korea employs AI in its public safety system – integrating data from cameras, sensors, and emergency services to enable real-time threat detection and response.

– But the active integration of artificial intelligence also raises questions of responsibility, including ethical and moral dimensions. How can this delicate balance be maintained, especially in a domain as sensitive as public administration?

– Every leap in technological advancement demands a new level of responsibility. A vivid historical example is the emergence of nuclear technologies, which presented humanity with unprecedented challenges in terms of ethics and global security.

Despite the efforts of some countries to develop regulatory frameworks, the issue of accountability for AI-related actions remains unresolved. One striking example is autonomous vehicles: if an accident occurs involving a self-driving car, who should be held accountable – the developer, the manufacturer, or the owner?

Similar dilemmas arise in the use of big data. Who is responsible if decisions based on that data turn out to be flawed? What are the mechanisms for oversight and correction? These questions point to a broader concern: how do we ensure the reliability and accountability of AI systems, uphold ethical standards, and protect citizens’ rights?

This growing reliance on AI underscores the need not only for improved digital literacy, but also for the cultivation of a strong ethical culture and institutional values – particularly within public administration. After all, civil servants are the ones who shape regulatory frameworks, define strategic priorities, and create the conditions for the responsible and equitable deployment of AI.

A special responsibility falls on those who work directly with these technologies – those who manage the systems, interpret the data, and make decisions based on AI-generated insights. Their work must serve the public good, safeguard citizens’ rights and freedoms, and be guided by principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

In this context, artificial intelligence does not diminish the importance of human capital, it amplifies it. Paradoxically, the AI era elevates the mission of human resources (HR), even as it introduces new possibilities for human resource management (HRM)  system itself.

– It seems that the role of the state today extends far beyond the traditional scope of regulating AI...

– The state is becoming the architect of an entire ecosystem in which artificial intelligence can grow and evolve not only rapidly, but also safely, ethically, and, most importantly, sustainably.

This idea is echoed in the foreword by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the book “Public Administration in the New Reality”. He notes:
“Governments are increasingly using tools based on scientific and technological advancements to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate public policy. The integration of cognitive technologies, commonly referred to as AI, combined with big data analytics, allows policymakers to better understand the implications and impact of their decisions. Moreover, digital technologies are being employed to improve the efficiency of public institutions and human resource management systems”.

According to the Head of State, it is crucial to embrace innovation in order to make government structures more citizen-centered, agile, responsive, and creative—leveraging the advantages offered by the rapid development of digital technologies.

Today, artificial intelligence is viewed as a key factor capable of shaping global geopolitics, economic growth, and societal transformation. As a result, governments are increasingly assuming roles beyond that of regulators—they are also acting as strategic investors, moderators, and active partners. This includes close collaboration with the private sector, businesses, and the academic community in the development and application of AI. According to the Head of State, it is essential to embrace innovation to make government institutions more citizen-oriented, agile, responsive, and creative, by harnessing the potential of rapidly evolving digital technologies.

Today, artificial intelligence is seen as a key driver capable of shaping the trajectory of global geopolitics, economic growth, and social transformation. As a result, governments are increasingly taking on roles beyond that of regulators – acting as strategic investors, facilitators, and active partners. This involves close cooperation with the private sector, industry, and academia in the development and application of AI.

A vivid example of a comprehensive approach was the recent U.S. Senate hearing titled “Winning the AI Race”, where leading representatives from OpenAI, CoreWeave, AMD, and Microsoft emphasized that artificial intelligence has become a cornerstone of global leadership and national security. They called for large-scale investments in infrastructure, workforce development, legal frameworks, and cybersecurity. Particular emphasis was placed on competition with China and the need for global cooperation to establish unified standards for the safe deployment of these technologies. The hearings sent a clear signal: the United States aims to shape a strategic approach in which the government acts not only as a regulator, but also as the chief architect of an environment conducive to the responsible and sustainable development of AI.

Around the world, leading nations are advancing AI by adopting distinct approaches to its integration. China, for example, has unveiled DeepSeek—a powerful alternative to ChatGPT designed to operate efficiently with lower resource consumption. Moreover, starting this year, AI has been incorporated into the national school curriculum from the early grades in Beijing, aiming to foster digital literacy and prepare the workforce of the future.

The European Union is prioritizing responsible regulation in the field of artificial intelligence. The adoption of the AI Act in 2024 introduced strict requirements for transparency, safety, and the protection of human rights. In parallel, the EU is implementing large-scale initiatives, including the development of data center and supercomputer infrastructure (AI Factories and Gigafactories), and the launch of the InvestAI programme, with a €200 billion budget aimed at advancing the AI ecosystem, covering cloud technologies and startup support. These approaches reflect different strategies but a shared objective: the development of AI as a tool for sustainable and inclusive progress.

Kazakhstan is pursuing a strategic path toward AI development with the aim of securing a meaningful position within the global AI ecosystem. In 2025, ‘Alem.ai’ International AI Center will be launched in Astana on the EXPO site. It is expected to become a flagship platform for integrating advanced technologies across science, public administration, industry, and the creative economy. The Center will host a digital school for high school students, a peer-to-peer learning school for university students, a startup campus, research laboratories, and a dedicated GovTech zone for digital solutions in the public sector.

In the context of global efforts to ensure the ethical and safe use of AI, international initiatives and recommendations play a key role. Among the most significant are the OECD Guidelines (2019), endorsed by the G20 countries. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021), adopted by more than 190 countries, enshrines universal benchmarks such as transparency, inclusiveness, human rights and sustainable development. These efforts were complemented by the Bletchley Declaration (2023), signed by 29 countries, which emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and joint development of standards for the regulation of AI, especially with regard to autonomous and high-risk systems.

The UN is taking active steps to promote the fair, reliable and inclusive use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. In 2024, the Future Summit adopted the Pact for the Future, which views AI as a key technology with the potential to significantly impact the future of humanity. The document emphasizes the need for human-centered, accountable and transparent governance of AI at all stages of its life cycle. Key initiatives include the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence at the UN, the launch of a Global Dialogue on the regulation of these platforms, the promotion of open models that comply with international standards, and the involvement of the private sector in ensuring the safety and transparency of AI systems.

Against this backdrop, interregional and regional initiatives take on special importance, as they aim to adapt global approaches to local contexts – taking into account countries’ socio-economic conditions, levels of digital maturity, and institutional characteristics.

A prominent example is the Astana Civil Service Hub (ACSH) – a joint initiative of the Government of Kazakhstan and UNDP, aimed at supporting the efforts of participating countries in developing effective public administration by strengthening the human and institutional capacity in the civil service.

– What are the current priorities of the ACSH in supporting AI development in countries with emerging digital ecosystems?

- The Hub is a multilateral platform that brings together 43 countries and over 90 partners, and actively promotes the exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of civil service, public administration, digital transformation and the application of AI - at all levels, from regional to international.

Last year, at the World Government Summit in 2024 in the UAE, the results of a survey conducted by the Hub among countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus and beyond, focusing on unlocking the potential of AI in emerging digital ecosystems were presented.

Among the key priorities identified by respondents of this important survey were the establishment of legal and regulatory frameworks, the development of accessible infrastructure, including expanded access to high-speed internet, particularly in remote areas, and the importance of supporting startups, academic research, and public-private partnerships to strengthen the AI ecosystem. Special emphasis was placed on human capital development, enhancing the professional competencies and value-based resilience of civil servants, and on the need to establish clear ethical frameworks for the use of AI. Participants also highlighted the importance of adopting universal indicators to assess the scale, quality, and impact of new technologies, as well as engaging in international cooperation. The results of this survey made a meaningful contribution to the global dialogue on the role of government in fostering an enabling environment for AI development.

Today, among the key initiatives of the Hub, I can highlight the interregional project implemented jointly with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea (MOIS), the National Information Society Agency (NIA) and UNDP. It is aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil servants in the field of digital transformation and digital governance in 12 countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Asia-Pacific region. 

As part of the project, conferences, training programmes, and workshops were organized, engaging more than 400 civil servants. These activities fostered knowledge exchange and reinforced intergovernmental cooperation. Due to its proven effectiveness, the project was expanded from 7 to 12 countries and has been recognized as a successful model of international collaboration.

Two knowledge products were developed and disseminated within the project, they are: “Open (Government) Data Policy and Practice” and “Standard Frameworks for Digital Transformation”, both offering practical case studies and actionable recommendations. 

The next step involves the preparation of a publication, dedicated to global approaches to AI governance and cooperation. This material will highlight key international trends and serve as a reference point for countries designing their own strategies for AI development and regulation.

A particularly significant initiative of the ACSH is the establishment of Peer-to-Peer Alliances of Practitioners, focused on areas such as public service delivery, e-government development, public sector transformation, and the application of AI and emerging technologies. These Alliances, which bring together representatives from more than nine countries and international organizations, service as effective platforms for experience sharing, joint learning, and collaborative problem-solving, grounded in trust, mutual understanding, and shared objectives.

Speaking of trust-building, it is worth noting that AI can serve as a practical tool for enhancing transparency and the effectiveness of public communication. In this context, the Hub organized a three-day hands-on workshop in Astana on the use of AI for press secretaries of central and local government bodies for effective communication with the population.

As an outcome of the event, a digital guide was prepared, featuring an international overview of emerging trends and practical recommendations for the use of AI in government communications. 

We have entered a new era in which humans coexist with artificial intelligence. In the pursuit of leadership in AI application, it is crucial not to lose sight of the core principles: technology must serve the advancement of society, the protection of human rights, and the reinforcement of shared values – not replace them.

In the face of mounting global competition and the quest for technological dominance, the winners will be those who ensure AI evolves responsibly, ethically, and in service of humanity.

It is especially important for governments to recognize this interdependence and to shape strategic priorities, regulatory frameworks, and institutional approaches in which humans and technology advance hand in hand. To improve the effectiveness of decision-making, continuous exchange of knowledge and best practices is essential as it helps conserve resources, reduce risks, and strengthen public trust. International cooperation and dialogue play a special role in this, enabling the development of shared principles, enhancing institutional resilience, and adapting effective solutions.