Kazakhstan enacts human-centric AI law and launches AI Governance 500 in January 2026

Kazakhstan's new artificial intelligence law, which took effect on January 18, establishes a human-centered framework that prioritizes individual rights, freedoms, and safety while regulating AI development and use. The legislation bans certain manipulative and discriminatory AI practices, mandates clear labeling of synthetic content, and clarifies rules around copyright and AI training data. On January 19, the government also launched the AI Governance 500 program to train around 100 public-sector executives, alongside a UNESCO-led assessment of the country's readiness for human-centered AI.