Turkish AI startups expected to grow
Turkish artificial intelligence (AI) startups are expected to grow rapidly, with the country’s vice president, Cevdet Yilmaz, stating that there are over 700 in Türkiye.
AI Tomorrow Summit
Speaking at the AI Tomorrow Summit organized by the Artificial Intelligence Policies Association (AIPA), Yilmaz noted that AI goes through groundbreaking developments every day, with a transformative impact that is already apparent in many areas of life.
According to a study, the contribution of AI to the global economy is expected to reach approximately $15.7 trillion by 2030. Of this, $6.6 trillion will stem from productivity and $9.1 trillion from consumption.
Global Impact and Challenges
The global gross national product is projected to rise by 14% in 2030 with AI. It is anticipated that AI will contribute more to the global economy than the economic size of China and India combined, affecting 40% of jobs worldwide.
Yilmaz emphasized the importance of robust AI policies to ensure safety, especially in areas such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical data processing.
Education and Research
There are currently more than 40 AI-focused master’s and doctoral programs in Türkiye, along with AI and robotics research centers at over 30 universities. Additionally, 71 new associate’s degrees and undergraduate programs are planned in the near future to help the youth adapt to AI technology.
The Ministry of National Education has updated the curriculum at all levels of public education to include AI topics. Efforts are also underway to establish AI workshops in all 81 provinces of Türkiye.
Collaborative Initiatives
Türkiye’s Digital Transformation Office has launched a project aimed at the youth to bring AI-related university clubs together under a single initiative for collaborative work. The collaboration between students, the private sector, and academia is crucial for the advancement of AI studies.
Moreover, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) has introduced various AI initiatives to further enhance the development of AI in the country.
