FROM READINESS FOR USE: SOCIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The article analyzes the socially differentiated adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Kazakhstan. The study aims to identify which social groups are more likely to transition from a declarative readiness to use AI to its regular practical application and how this transition correlates with public regulatory attitudes. The empirical basis of the research is a national mass survey of the adult population of Kazakhstan (N = 3000, November 2025). The study employs descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation analysis, and Pearson's  test.

The findings demonstrate that the experience of purposeful AI use is statistically linked to age, educational attainment, financial status, and type of settlement. It was established that the transition from readiness to regular AI application is non-linear, encompassing a segment of potential users as well as a group of "pragmatic users" who lack a pronounced attitudinal readiness. A correlation was identified between AI usage experience and regulatory preferences: respondents with practical experience are more likely to support moderate or selective regulation models. The results are interpreted through the lens of the digital divide and refine the understanding of social mechanisms of AI adoption within the national context.