Astana as a model for AI-driven urban managementAstana is becoming the main testing ground for Kazakhstan’s smart city ambitions. Creating a national smart region ecosystemThe DEC40 agreement expands Kazakhstan’s focus beyond the capital by supporting regional smart city projects. The city’s plans include AI-driven urban management, digital twins, smart city technologies and Web3 solutions. Turning ambition into resultsTechnology alone will not determine the outcome of Kazakhstan’s smart city strategy. The next stage will be whether these partnerships produce measurable results and help position Kazakhstan as a regional leader in smart city innovation.