Freedom Holding and Nvidia launch $2 billion AI center

Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

Kazakhstan and Nvidia plan to establish a $2 billion sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) center with a capacity of 100 megawatts. The arrangement was inked on Nov. 7 between Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp., Nvidia and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in Washington, D.C.

Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Timur Turlov has shared his vision of why Kazakhstan is solid ground for implementing innovations in Central Asia.

«We are delighted to be part of this revolutionary initiative aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s stance in the global artificial intelligence landscape. By combining our experience with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technologies and the strategic support of the ministry, we intend to create a strong foundation for innovation in the field of artificial intelligence and ensure long-term development for the entire Central Asian region,» Turlov said.

Photo: Freedom Holding Corp.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, working with NVIDIA is an important step in implementing Kazakhstan’s national strategy in AI.

«We are laying the foundation for a sovereign AI ecosystem that will strengthen our economy, increase competitiveness and open up new opportunities for the entire region,» Madiyev emphasized.

The new exaflop AI center based on Nvidia infrastructure in Kazakhstan will be managed by Freedom Holding Corp., which will serve as the project’s main provider of financial support. Meanwhile, the ministry will create favorable conditions for the placement and operation of large-scale AI infrastructure. It will also support initiatives such as the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Academy and a research laboratory to train engineers and researchers.

In addition, Freedom Holding Corp. signed another strategic agreement with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and the government of Kazakhstan. Under the document, 165,000 teachers across Kazakhstan will gain access to ChatGPT Edu, an educational version of ChatGPT with enhanced data protection and privacy management tools.

Freedom Holding Corp. is the largest brokerage and investment holding company in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. In Kazakhstan, the holding offers brokerage services under the brands Freedom Broker (Freedom Finance JSC, a member of KASE) and Freedom Finance Global (a member of AIX). Freedom subsidiaries operating in the country also include Freedom Bank, Freedom Insurance, Freedom Life, Freedom Travel and Freedom Ticketon, a platform for selling tickets to concerts, movies and cultural events.

Nvidia is an American tech giant specializing in the development of graphic processing units (GPUs), systems-on-a-chip (SoCs), and AI solutions, including the GeForce line for gaming, Quadro and A100/H100 for professional visualization and data centers, as well as platforms for autonomous vehicles and robotics. Nvidia is a global leader in accelerated computing, deep learning and AI with a market cap of over $4.5 trillion. It plays a key role in the development of advanced technologies such as generative AI and supercomputers.