Kazakhstan's AI revolution cuts bureaucracy in social services by 2026
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence in public services. By March 2026, the ministry had delivered 1.4 million services, with 41% processed electronically. Plans now include extending AI to pension payments, state benefits, and kandas status assignments by the end of the year. The push for digital transformation began in 2025, when AI was first introduced to streamline targeted social assistance, jobseeker registration, and disability assessments. One key tool analyses household conditions through photos to determine eligibility for aid more precisely. As a result, the number of families receiving targeted social assistance dropped sharply—from 114,000 in 2023 to around 30,000 by 2026.
Another AI system reviews medical records to generate recommendations for medical-social expert panels. To date, it has processed over 24,000 applications. Meanwhile, the 'Digital Employment Service' project uses data and AI to provide citizens with personalised job support. The ministry's 'Digital Workspace for Akims' platform now covers all 17 regions and 1,786 rural districts. It gives local administrators real-time insights to manage services more efficiently. Overall, 45 out of 49 ministry services are now available digitally. However, no specific data has been released on how many citizens have directly benefited from automated decisions on benefits like *kandas* status or unemployment support since 2025. By the end of 2026, the ministry aims to integrate AI into every government service under its control.
The ministry's digital shift has already reduced paperwork and sped up service delivery. With AI now embedded in social assistance, job support, and medical assessments, further automation is expected by 2027. The next phase will focus on pensions, broader state benefits, and expanding the kandas status system.
