AI Adoption in Micro and Small Businesses in Almaty, Kazakhstan: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly accessible to small firms, yet evidence on adoption by micro and small businesses in Central Asia remains limited. This study examined current AI use, reported benefits, barriers, readiness factors and future intentions among independent businesses in Almaty, Kazakhstan. A cross-sectional exploratory mixed-methods design combined an anonymous Russian-language survey with three short semi-structured interviews. After applying fixed eligibility rules and removing duplicate or ineligible responses, 14 survey responses were retained: four current users and ten non-users. Survey data were analysed descriptively; interviews were paraphrased thematically and kept separate from survey denominators. Four businesses (28.6%) reported purposeful AI use during the previous three months. All four users used AI chat assistants, three used AI daily, and all reported time saving. Three reported lower costs and better quality. Among non-users, insufficient knowledge was the most common barrier (5 of 10), followed by an unconvinced owner or manager (3 of 10). All four users expected to increase AI use, but survey branching left future-intention data missing for non-users. The interviews also suggested that knowledge gaps may discourage initial use and limit deeper adoption. These findings describe only the small convenience sample and do not estimate adoption across Almaty. They nevertheless identify locally relevant patterns for future research and practical support, especially accessible training, local-language tools and low-cost entry points.