Targeted Funding Program

Artificial Intelligence
and the Ethics of
Social Justice

Conceptual Understanding of Opportunities and Risks in the Processes of Modernizing Society in Kazakhstan
Social Justice Social Modernization AI Ethics Digital Inequality Social Innovation Digital Society
2025 Start year
2027 Completion year
IPPSRS Institute

Project Active

Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan · established 1958

STATUS
Active
Financing
MES RK Targeted Fund
Institute website
News & Events

Latest Updates

Рабочая встреча команды
Research Focus

Research Group Working Meeting

The project "Artificial Intelligence and the Ethics of Social Justice" explores new challenges at the intersection of technology, society, and ethics. The working meeting featured an exchange of views on research results, discussion of key findings, and identification of areas requiring further attention.

Рабочая встреча
Scientific Dialogue

Meeting with University Research Community

Project leader Sholpan Jamanbalayeva held a working meeting with representatives of the university research community. Issues of research organization, project implementation and interdisciplinary cooperation were discussed.

Рабочая встреча
AI and Social Justice

Project Working Meeting of the Leader and Researchers

Participants discussed key research directions, current results, and organizational aspects of project implementation. Special attention was paid to the ethical dimensions of AI, its impact on social processes, and the need to incorporate principles of social justice in the development and deployment of digital technologies.

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АиФ Казахстан

Digitalization of the Entire Country

IPAR senior researcher Rustem Mustafin on Kazakhstan's strategic AI and digitalization priorities: ICT services volume grew 155% over 10 years, exports increased 5-fold. Kazakhstan ranked 24th in the UN e-government index, ahead of China and Germany.

18.03.2025 · АиФ Казахстан Read →
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Kapital.kz

Kazakhstan Is Becoming a Significant Player in the Global IT Market

Rustem Mustafin (IPAR) on Kazakhstan's IT prospects: over 16,000 IT companies, 180,000 specialists. IT services exports grew from $30M in 2020 to $500M+ in 2023. The $1B target by 2026 is realistic.

07.08.2024 · Kapital.kz Read →
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Liter.kz

The 2025 Address Builds a New Narrative

IPAR Center for Digital Social Sciences head Rustem Mustafin: establishing a Ministry of AI and Digital Development reflects Kazakhstan's ambition to become an active player in the global digital race. Digital sovereignty is a pillar of state resilience.

08.09.2025 · Liter.kz Read →
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Мысль / Qazaq Gazetteri

Digital Sphere Priorities

Ermek Toktarov (IPAR) on three strategic directions: accelerated AI integration in state agencies and smart cities, enhanced cybersecurity, and the AI-Sana program for developing highly qualified AI specialists.

20.02.2025 · Мысль Read →
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Казахстанская правда

Artificial Intelligence as an Investment

Ermek Toktarov (IPAR): Successful AI integration is an investment in the future. AI can help harmonize the legal system, improve educational accessibility, and enhance the competitiveness of Kazakhstani specialists in the global market.

10.01.2025 · Казахстанская правда Read →
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facebook.com

Human Capital and the Digital Age

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's Address places significant emphasis on human capital. The Head of State's words reflect a strategic approach to digital modernization, which is impossible without systemic changes in education. "Competencies in artificial intelligence must begin developing from school," the President stressed.

08.09.2025 · facebook.com Read →
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facebook.com

Digital Kazakhstan: A Step into the Future

President K.K. Tokayev, speaking at the expanded Government session, emphasized the need for accelerated adoption of AI technologies, with particular focus on e-government systems and Smart City projects. Successful implementation requires accounting for the population's digital literacy, attitudes toward AI, and the specific ways different social groups use digital services.

06.02.2025 · facebook.com Read →
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facebook.com

AI in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Opportunities

Kazakhstan's President K.K. Tokayev, speaking at the expanded Government session, emphasized the need for accelerated use of AI technologies with particular attention to e-government and Smart City projects. Successful implementation is impossible without accounting for digital literacy levels, AI perception patterns, and how various social groups use digital services.

03.02.2025 · facebook.com Read →
About the Project

Research Scope and Objectives

To provide a conceptual understanding of the potential and ethical risks of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of social justice in Kazakhstan, and to identify its role in the processes of modernization and transformation of society.

In the contemporary world, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly penetrating all spheres of life, opening unprecedented prospects for humanity. However, alongside the enormous potential of AI, serious ethical questions arise that require thorough consideration. In the context of modernization and transformation of Kazakhstani society, the issue of social justice in the digital age is becoming particularly relevant.

The program is aimed at studying the ambivalent potential of AI and developing ethical principles for its application in the context of social justice in Kazakhstan. The program will include a comprehensive study of the dynamics of social change, the value orientations of different social groups, ethical and legal aspects of AI use, and international experience in this field.

The results will enable the development of recommendations to minimize risks and ensure social justice under conditions of digitalization, contributing to the development of a harmonious and just society in Kazakhstan.

  1. To study the ambivalent potential of artificial intelligence and provide a conceptual foundation for the ethics of social justice through the lens of social modernization in contemporary Kazakhstan, including the specific structure and content of the phenomenon of social justice in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  2. To analyze the dynamics of qualitative and quantitative changes in the social structure of Kazakhstani society using the capabilities of artificial intelligence and its transformation under conditions of social modernization.
  3. To identify the value orientations of different social strata in the context of social justice and the transformation of social relations under the influence of digital technologies.
  4. To examine the philosophical aspects of the theoretical and practical role of artificial intelligence, the ethical and legal foundations of its application, and the worldview orientations of the modernized consciousness of Kazakhstani society.
  5. To develop philosophical foundations for contemporary mechanisms and technologies of digital reality for implementing relevant transformations in the social policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  6. To examine international experience in social innovation and AI implementation in the context of opportunities and risks for social modernization.
  7. To study the potential of AI to promote social justice by minimizing digital inequality and ensuring equal access to technological resources.
  8. To assess the impact of AI on the transformation of the labor sphere in Kazakhstan and its effects on social inequality and social justice.
  9. To conduct a comparative analysis of ethical risks and legal regulation of AI use in different countries and develop recommendations for Kazakhstan.
  10. To examine the role of AI in strengthening democratic processes and citizens' political participation under conditions of digital transformation of society.
  11. To investigate the potential of AI for forecasting social change and developing effective social policy mechanisms in the context of modernization of Kazakhstani society.

The scientific novelty and significance of the program are based on a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to studying a broad range of issues related to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Kazakhstan’s current process of social modernization; the specific structure and content of the phenomenon of social justice in the country; the value orientations of different social groups in the context of the transformation of social relations under the influence of digital technologies; and the potential of AI to promote social justice by reducing digital inequality and ensuring equal access to technological resources.

Compared with international research, the body of work produced by Kazakhstani scholars in this field remains relatively limited. This indicates a lack of theoretical knowledge on the topic in Kazakhstan. The program not only synthesizes existing international approaches to state and institutional regulation of AI, but also proposes adapted models of such mechanisms, thereby providing the research with practical value.

A distinctive feature of the project is its interdisciplinary and comprehensive examination not only of relations between state institutions and AI, but also of interaction between society and information technologies. The program corresponds to national development priorities and will contribute to addressing key challenges of Kazakhstan’s socio-economic and scientific-technological progress.

To formulate scientifically grounded recommendations for public policy in the field of AI regulation, taking into account the principles of social justice and Kazakhstani values. Ethical aspects of AI application require particular attention in order to minimize potential negative consequences.

The European Union is developing the “AI Act”, legislation establishing transparency standards, preventing discrimination, and protecting citizens’ rights in the digital age. Kazakhstan may adapt this experience by developing its own regulatory documents that take into account the country’s cultural and social characteristics. Such measures would help reduce risks associated with AI use, including breaches of data confidentiality, increased social polarization, and algorithmic bias.

The main research hypotheses assume that the development of AI can simultaneously accelerate processes of social modernization and intensify social inequality due to the digital divide. A comprehensive approach is applied to test these hypotheses, combining theoretical research, empirical data analysis, virtual experiments, and predictive modeling.

The empirical base is formed through quantitative surveys of different social groups, expert interviews with professionals in digital technologies, education, and governance, as well as focus groups. Regression and correlation analysis, clustering, and transcript coding methods are used for data processing.

The processing tools include SPSS, R, and Python, as well as the Digital Platform for Analysis and Management of Sociological Data of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies (Author’s Certificate No. 52333 dated December 9, 2024). Based on this platform, a technology called “digital consultant using artificial intelligence for social research” will be developed.

All publications, reports, and research results are openly available in the “Results” section. DOI links are provided for each article. When collective monographs, articles, methodological recommendations, and manuals are published, the specific contribution of each project participant is indicated on a mandatory basis.

Within the scientific program, a system for applying AI to scientific tasks in the field of social data analysis will be developed. A patent will be obtained to protect intellectual property.

Project Team

Project Leader

Research group of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies.

Sholpan Yerbolovna Jamanbalayeva
ШД
★ Project Leader

Sholpan Yerbolovna Jamanbalayeva

Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor

Possesses a high level of theoretical training and extensive research, scientific-organizational, and practical experience in interdisciplinary social research. Author of more than 150 scholarly works directly related to digitalization, social modernization, digital inequality, social structure transformation, and social justice.

Holds certificates of authorship for the development of a digital platform for interactive analysis and management of sociological data, and for research on state policy in the field of digitalization. Publications in identity and subjective well-being demonstrate competencies essential for developing ethical AI systems in Kazakhstani conditions.

Publications in Web of Science and Scopus
  1. Mansurova M., Zhaisanova D., Jamanbalayeva Sh. Digital Society and Social Conflicts: A Science Map of the Field. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 2211. Springer, Cham, 2024. DOI →
  2. Jamanbalayeva S., Burova E., Tlenchiyeva S. The Impact of Religious Self-Identification on Happiness and Well-Being: A Case Study of Kazakhstan. Changing Societies & Personalities, 8(3), 592–610, 2024. (Q4) DOI →
  3. Burova E., Jamanbalayeva S. et al. The Linguistic and Sociolinguistic Profile Characteristics in Religious Discourses. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(6), 541–557, 2024. DOI →
  4. Burova E., Sagikyzy A., Jamanbalayeva Sh. et al. The Role of Religion in Shaping Sociocultural Self-Identification of Society in Kazakhstan. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, №5(12), pp. 145–156, 2023. (Q2) DOI →
  5. Джаманбалаева Ш.Е., Бурова Е.Е. Религиозная ситуация в современном Казахстане. Социологические исследования, № 8, С. 76–85, 2023. (Q2) DOI →
  6. Tlenchiyeva Sh., Jamanbalayeva Sh. Happiness in Kazakhstan. International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2023. (Q3) DOI →
Results

Achieved Results

Publications, intellectual property certificates, and progress in project implementation

Articles in peer-reviewed publications
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Сагикызы А., Дунаев В.Ю., Курганская В.Д. Информационное общество: концептуальные модели и алгоритмы фреймирования опыта повседневности // Вопросы философии. 2026. № 1. С. 28–38.

DOI: 10.21146/0042-8744-2026-1-28-38 →
Articles in publications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education
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Шаукенова З.К. Акторно-сетевая парадигма социологии «незапрошенного общественного мнения» // Қоғам және Дәуір. – 2026. – № 1S (89S). – С. 46–59.

DOI: 10.52536/2788-5860.2026.89.S1.004 →
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Садвокасов А.К., Джаманбалаева Ш.Е., Аманжолова А.Т. Қазақстанда жасанды интеллектіні игерудегі әлеуметтік айырмашылықтар: дайындықтан қолдануға дейін // Қоғам және Дәуір. – 2026. – № 1S (89S). – С. 9–20.

DOI: 10.52536/2788-5860.2026.89.S1.001 →
Articles in Kazakhstani scientific journals
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Jamanbalayeva Sh.O., Burova E.M. Perception of Digital Technologies by Believers: Ambivalence of Practices and Dimensions in the Context of Social Justice // SOCIOLOGY. KZ. – 2025. – № 1(1). – P. 59–78.

DOI: 10.48010/2026.1/sskz.3 →
Author’s certificates
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Author's Certificates, зарегистрированные в Национальном Институте интеллектуальной собственности Республики Казахстан.

📄 Certificate: Computational Model →
📄 Certificate: Mobile Application →
Project implementation progress
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Участие в международных конференциях и научных мероприятиях по тематике проекта. Подробная информация будет добавлена по мере реализации.

Monographs
📚

Monographs находятся в процессе подготовки. Информация будет опубликована после выхода.

Contacts

Address

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Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies
29 Kurmangazy Street, Almaty