LocationsThe 2025 Human Development Report was launched in Kazakhstan at the Digital Bridge forum
October 2, 2025
The 2025 Human Development Report was launched in Kazakhstan at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kazakhstan organized a panel session titled “The Power of Choice: Human Development at the Crossroads of Artificial Intelligence.” The event brought together diplomats, government officials, academics, civil society, educators, and thought leaders to discuss the findings of the Human Development Report 2025 and the future of AI in Kazakhstan and beyond.
First published by the UNDP in 1990, the Human Development Report (HDR) introduced the Human Development Index (HDI) as a new way to measure progress beyond economic growth. The HDR has since become a leading global reference for assessing well-being, focusing on health, education, and standard of living. Each year, the report explores a key theme shaping human development, providing data-driven insights and policy recommendations for governments, civil society, and the international community.
The Human Development Report 2025 reveals a troubling global trend: while the Human Development Index (HDI) has reached its highest level ever, the pace of progress has slowed to its lowest rate in 35 years. For many years, the global HDI steadily improved, but recent years have seen increased volatility and stagnation. In fact, the global HDI average declined for two consecutive years (2020–2021)—the first such back-to-back drop since the report’s inception. In 2023, over 90 countries recorded lower HDI values than in 2019, highlighting the widespread impact of recent crises.
Even more concerning, the gap in human development between countries at the top and bottom of the HDI rankings, which had been shrinking for decades, is now widening again. This reversal means the poorest and most vulnerable are being left further behind, turning a process of convergence into one of divergence. The report also highlights a sharp decline in the mental well-being of young people, especially young women and girls, in recent years—a trend that coincides with the rapid diffusion of digital technologies powered by AI.
“AI is not just a technological breakthrough—it is a test of our values and priorities. The choices we make today will determine whether AI becomes a force for inclusion and progress, or a driver of deeper divides. UNDP is committed to ensuring that AI supports human development and empowers people everywhere,” said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
The 2025 HDR focuses on artificial intelligence as both a challenge and an opportunity for human development. Survey data show that around 20% of respondents globally are already using AI, and two-thirds of respondents in countries with lower HDI expect to use AI within a year. This contrasts with about half of respondents in very high HDI countries. Notably, people expect AI to augment their work more than automate it, with expectations of new opportunities outweighing fears of job displacement.
However, the report warns that the training data and development of generative AI models are heavily skewed toward the perspectives of high-HDI countries, raising concerns about bias and inclusivity. The choices made today—by governments, organizations, and individuals—will determine whether AI becomes a force for inclusion and progress or a driver of deeper divides.
The report underscores the potential of artificial intelligence—not just as a technological breakthrough, but as a powerful tool to overcome stagnation and drive progress. Global survey results show cautious optimism: half of respondents believe their current jobs could be automated, but 60% expect AI to open new career opportunities, including professions that do not yet exist. Only 13% express concern about potential job losses, while in countries with lower HDI, 70% anticipate productivity gains from AI, and two-thirds plan to use it in education, healthcare, or work within the next year.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming every sector of our economy and society. Our challenge is to harness its potential for the benefit of all, ensuring that no one is left behind. Kazakhstan is investing in digital infrastructure and skills to prepare our workforce for the future,” said Dmitryi Mun, Vice-Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan maintains a strong position, ranking 60th out of 193 countries in the HDI with a score of 0.837. However, when factoring in inequality and environmental risks, the index declines to 0.765, highlighting the urgent need for fair and sustainable solutions.
In response to the challenges of the digital era, Kazakhstan has developed a new law regulating AI, prioritizing human rights, transparency, and safety. The legislation prohibits the use of AI for emotion analysis, behavioural control, and personal data collection without consent, and mandates labelling of deepfakes. It also restricts open neural networks to protect confidential information and stresses the importance of integrating national values and cultural identity into AI deployment.
“Today, international law is developing in a fragmented way and does not create effective enforcement mechanisms. In fact, global regulation of AI remains soft. As a result, it is national systems that bear the main responsibility for protecting citizens’ rights and safeguarding economic interests,” said Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva, Member of Mazhilis of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is also making significant investments in education and innovation. Functions for innovation policy have been transferred to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, enabling closer integration of scientific and educational processes. The country is accelerating the adoption of domestic technologies, boosting competitiveness, and preparing specialists to work with AI. In education, AI is already changing approaches to learning and skills development.
“Artificial intelligence is not only a technological tool, but a factor reshaping the philosophy of education. It helps prepare a new generation of specialists, provides access to modern knowledge, and develops skills essential for the future—from analytical thinking to creative problem-solving. Integrating AI into the learning process fosters adaptability, innovation, and contribution to national development,” – noted Gulzat Kobenova, Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As generative AI spreads faster than any previous technology, the Human Development Report 2025 warns that this rapid integration brings both promise and risk. Without deliberate action, AI could deepen existing inequalities—access to assistive technologies remains concentrated in a few high-income countries, gender gaps persist in the AI workforce, and education and age continue to shape who benefits most. Many workers worldwide, especially in lower HDI regions, still lack the digital tools needed to take advantage of AI’s potential. What AI becomes, who controls it, and who benefits is not predetermined. The choices made today will determine whether AI advances opportunity for all or leaves many behind.
The report proposes three priority actions:
Building a complementary economy where humans and AI work together.
Stimulating innovation to expand human potential.
Investing in inclusive systems for education, healthcare, and social protection.
Session participants discussed how AI is transforming the very concept of human development, the unique challenges of this technological era, and the policy decisions needed to ensure AI promotes fairness, inclusion, and self-realization.
For more information:
Visit the Human Development Report 2025 to read full report in English and overview in Russian.
Visit the HDR overview and country specific data for the Kazakh versions.
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