AI threatens Kazakhstan’s public servant jobs

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to replace civil servants in Kazakhstan for routine tasks, which could lead to a reduction in government staff, according to Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev. He made the remarks in response to questions about the future of government jobs amidst the AI boom.

Madiyev explained that AI will automate repetitive tasks, freeing up government officials to focus on more creative, intellectual and strategic work that requires human involvement. However, he noted that there are currently no definitive predictions about the potential scale of staff reductions.

«We aim to improve the efficiency of the state apparatus. In some areas, we anticipate a potential staff reduction of 20% to 30%, which we are currently evaluating. For example, in call centers, it’s relatively straightforward to quantify the potential impact of AI on staffing levels. Trained AI systems will handle calls, provide information and send messages,» Madiyev said during a government briefing.

Vice Minister of Finance Asset Turysov added that adopting new technologies will inevitably raise questions about workforce optimization.

«AI will significantly streamline many manual tasks, leading to increased efficiency and productivity,» Turysov said. «However, this will raise questions about optimization in certain areas. I believe there will inevitably be a reorientation of civil servants.»

Kazakhstan has recently implemented AI-based monitoring to evaluate the performance of akims (local government leaders), aiming to improve the quality of life for citizens. Additionally, akims will receive weekly reports generated by AI, providing insights into the concerns and challenges faced by Kazakhstanis.