Geneva, 2 October 2026 – Kazakhstan will chair the First Global Forum of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intellectual Property, to be held in Geneva on 9-10 November 2026. The Forum will be chaired by Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Economic Organizations Kairat Torebayev.
The new international platform will bring together ministers, heads of national authorities, representatives of technology companies, academia and the creative industries. Discussions will focus on the use of works and data in the development of AI, the protection of the interests of authors and inventors, and the distribution of economic value generated by new technologies.
As a first step in preparations for the Forum, a briefing for ambassadors of WIPO Member States was held today, 2 October, at WIPO headquarters. The briefing was conducted jointly by Permanent Representative K. Torebayev and WIPO Assistant Director General Ken Natsume. Participants discussed the objectives of the Forum and its programme.
Permanent Representative K. Torebayev emphasized that intellectual property is becoming one of the key instruments of economic development in the age of AI. Decisions in this field affect countries' competitiveness, the remuneration of content creators and the ability of national innovation systems to develop. They also concern the preservation of cultural and linguistic diversity, giving these discussions strategic importance at both the political and diplomatic levels.
During the discussion, ambassadors placed particular emphasis on expanding access to technology, strengthening national capacities and reducing the digital divide. Participants discussed the need to strike a balance between protecting human creativity and supporting technological development, while also creating opportunities for developing and smaller countries to participate actively in innovation processes.
Permanent Representative K. Torebayev encouraged Member States to engage actively in preparations for the Forum, involve relevant ministries and government agencies, share practical experience and propose topics for discussion.
For Kazakhstan, the Forum will provide an opportunity to present its achievements in the fields of AI and intellectual property to the international community.
Kazakhstan's chairmanship of this new WIPO platform strengthens the country's participation in the global dialogue on the future of innovation and creativity and opens additional opportunities for international cooperation.
