Artificial intelligence, smart-city and new-format PSCs: digital projects of the Karaganda region

The recognition of wanted people through urban video doorbells, intelligent intersections without accidents, and new–format PSCs – based on the Apple Store principle - are already being tested and could potentially be scaled up across the country. Approaches to digital transformation and the introduction of artificial intelligence were discussed in the Karaganda region at a meeting with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Jaslan Madiyev.

The main topics were the development of telecommunications and cybersecurity, the work of IT hubs, the reform of public service centers, as well as smart city and smart regions projects.

The President's Address sets the task of widespread introduction of AI and total digitalization. The Karaganda region is currently one of the pilot sites where new technologies are being tested in practice. Digital solutions in the field of public safety, transport, urban infrastructure and data management are already operating in the region in real time.

A network of four thousand video surveillance cameras has become the basis of the public security system. It includes 180 hardware and software complexes, including speed meters, intelligent intersections and smart pedestrian crossings. There are 22 Argus-pedestrian complexes in Karaganda and Temirtau: the neural network automatically records violations during pedestrian crossings and transmits materials to the police. After their installation, no accidents involving pedestrians were recorded in these areas.

A face recognition system is also being developed, integrated with the search databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Unified Security Information Resource Complex.

– There are about 100 face recognition cameras in the region. Last year, they identified 268 cases of wanted persons. However, most cameras were originally installed for general video surveillance and are not always suitable for large-scale recognition. As a solution, we suggest using urban video doorbells – they are optimal in terms of location and angle of installation. The pilot project has already been launched in two residential complexes and will be expanded this year as a quick and cost–effective way to enhance public safety," said Konstantin Ilnitsky, Head of the Department of Informatization, Public Services and Archives.

The public services sector is also facing serious changes. It is planned to reengineer the PSC with a change in the very philosophy of work – the focus is shifting from the process to the result. The new approach was presented by the Chairman of the Board of the NGO "Government for Citizens" Arman Kenzhegaliev.

– A citizen should come not for a service, but for a solution to his life situation. In most cases – independently, without the participation of an operator. The key element of the new model is self–service terminals based on AlemGPT, focused on mass and simple services," he stressed.

For more complex queries, tablets with Egov 3.0, digital assistants and biometrics are provided, as well as workstations with access to the main government systems. The new digital offices will feature service areas, consultants, self-service terminals, information screens, workstations and video cameras. Through them, it is planned to issue identity cards, driver's licenses, educational documents, apostilled documents and acts of civil status. This will reduce the number of repeat visits to the PSC.

Projects using artificial intelligence, implemented in the Karaganda region and the capital and proposed for scaling in other regions, were presented separately.

– This year, expectations from digitalization and AI are particularly high, and all the necessary conditions have been created for this. The country has supercomputing capacities, educational initiatives and structured approaches to working with data. This forms the basis for systematic interaction between central government agencies and akimats," said Jaslan Madiyev.

Akim of Karaganda region Ermaganbet Bulekpayev stressed that work on digitalization in the region will continue.

– All the solutions presented will be elaborated and implemented in detail. I am sure that joint work will significantly improve the quality of life of the population," said the head of the region.