Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, is piloting a digital «board member» called SKAI (Samruk-Kazyna Artificial Intelligence), sparking debate amid the country’s lack of specific AI regulation.
However, as MP Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva recently noted on the sidelines of parliament, SKAI lacks voting rights and legal personality.
AI has no say
Smyshlyaeva explained that the artificial intelligence law adopted by parliament explicitly states that AI is not a legal subject. This means digital systems cannot hold office, sign documents or vote.
She emphasized that only humans have subjectivity and legal capacity, essential for board duties. AI lacks these and serves as a legal object.
According to her, the digital agent presented as a board member is not a true board member but actually serves as an analytical tool to assist in collective decision-making.
«When we say ‘digital board member,’ it’s really just a metaphor,» she emphasized. «It doesn’t vote or make decisions. Its analytics can be considered, but the final word always belongs to people.»
AI Ministry’s stance
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development calls the Samruk-Kazyna initiative a pilot project testing new corporate governance methods.
Vice Minister Dmitriy Mun said AI is evolving faster than other technologies. He added that the government should stay involved.
Notably, the vice minister too stressed that decisions within Samruk-Kazyna’s board of directors are still made collectively — by humans. The digital system functions solely in an advisory and analytical capacity.
