DigiTimes复盘黄仁勋哈萨克斯坦之行：100亿美元AI枢纽、4.5万颗GB GPU与Freedom B300集群均为此前已披露旧闻

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's visit to Kazakhstan highlighted plans to build an AI computing hub for Europe, with projects spanning GPU clusters, data centers, talent, and physical AI. The initiative depends on power infrastructure, foreign technology, and Kazakhstan's ambition to develop and export its own AI capabilities across Central Asia.

Huang made his first visit to Central Asia on October 23, after concluding an earlier trip to Europe. In Astana, he held an in-depth discussion with Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, at the alem.ai international AI center.
The discussions focused on Kazakhstan's plans to move from importing AI technologies to producing and exporting AI to meet Europe's demand for computing power. Huang said the country could become a computing hub and AI factory center serving Europe.
Kazakhstan's strategy is centered on Data Center Valley, or DC Valley, an AI computing cluster under construction in Ekibastuz, in the country's northeast. The government has identified competitively priced electricity and existing power infrastructure as advantages for the development.
The initiative could have implications beyond data center capacity. Kazakhstan aims to develop an AI economy in which national infrastructure operates alongside power grids, telecommunications networks, and the internet. Foreign technology would supplement, rather than replace, domestic capabilities.
A regional AI infrastructure strategy
The government hopes to extend that model across Central Asia, transforming the region from a buyer of foreign technology into an exporter that can develop AI independently and sell it in global markets. Achieving that goal will depend on computing capacity, engineering talent, and domestic technology companies.
Kazakhstan's AI infrastructure program includes several separate components: an operational GPU cluster, infrastructure under construction, future hardware deployments, and a proposed larger-scale expansion. Nvidia and US AI infrastructure company Firebird are supporting the effort.
Firebird has obtained a US export license to ship 45,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell GPUs. It has also partnered with Kazakhtelecom, Kazakhstan's national telecommunications operator, to begin the first phase of construction at DC Valley. Commercial operations are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027.
The first 50MW power facility at DC Valley is expected to begin operations in June 2027. The project is designed for phased expansion, with ultimate installed capacity reaching 1GW. Its initial 215MW of capacity has already been fully booked.
In June 2026, Kazakhstan signed an agreement worth up to US$10 billion with Nvidia and Firebird. Kazakhtelecom plans to install more than 1,000 Nvidia Vera Rubin GPUs in Ekibastuz in 2027.
The DC Valley deployments are separate from earlier GPU installations by Kazakhtelecom. The operator previously deployed 400 H200 GPUs and 480 B300 GPUs in Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city.
Freedom Holding, the parent company of Freedom24, is also investing in the country's AI infrastructure. In November 2025, the company signed an agreement with Kazakhstan's Ministry of AI and Digital Development to invest US$2 billion in a Tier IV data center campus with 100MW of capacity in the capital.
During Huang's visit, Freedom CEO Timur Turlov met him at the alem.ai center to discuss joint plans for AI infrastructure. Turlov said Freedom was preparing to complete its first cluster order based on Nvidia B300 GPUs. The cluster is expected to launch in 2027 as a public GPU cloud platform for enterprises and developers.
Physical AI and local talent
Physical AI was a recurring theme during Huang's visit. The term covers robotics, autonomous systems, and AI use in manufacturing, energy, and transportation.
Huang said Kazakhstan could become a global hub for Physical AI during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The country's industrial base could provide opportunities to apply those technologies.
One potential application is a driverless taxi service being explored by ride-hailing companies inDrive and Pony.ai using Nvidia's autonomous-driving platform. Astana is expected to serve as the first pilot city.
Talent development was another focus of the visit, including training AI engineers, supporting startups, and connecting local founders with global markets. Huang said Kazakhstan was the first country he had visited to make AI development a national priority.
President Tokayev has designated AI and digitalization as national priorities and announced that 2026 will be Kazakhstan's Year of Digitalization and AI.
Kazakhstan is also seeking to build on its existing technology workforce. Turlov said the country has a large pool of talent, with local professionals developing technologies in e-commerce and finance.
On the day of Huang's visit, Nvidia announced an investment in San Francisco-based technology company Higgsfield, although it did not disclose financial terms. Higgsfield is an AI video platform co-founded by Kazakh engineer Yerzat Dulat. It has an office in Almaty and participates in the Astana Hub technology ecosystem.
Together, the projects point to an effort to link energy supply, computing infrastructure, software development, and industrial applications. Kazakhstan's stated objective is to use that combination to serve European demand while strengthening its position as a technology producer in Central Asia.