Nvidia's Huang heads to Kazakhstan for the first time — and he's not the only one with big plans

CHOLPON-ATA, KYRGYZSTAN - SEPTEMBER 06: The Kazakhstan flag is shown before the finals of Kok-boruFinals against Kyrgyzstan during the World Nomad Games at the Hippodrome Racetrack on September 6, 2026 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)Mitchell Layton | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesKazakhstan may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the global artificial intelligence boom, but several Big Tech companies have taken interest — including Nvidia.Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who made his first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday, said the country could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe, pointing to its energy resources and plans to expand data center capacity.Sitting in a fireside chat in Astana with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan's deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development, Huang highlighted the country's role. It's going to be a hub, a computing hub, an AI factory hub for all of Europe.He also emphasized the importance of countries developing their own AI capabilities, saying nations should have the infrastructure to deliver AI services domestically, while adapting the technology ...