Industry and Technology Minister Varank stated that qualified human resources are of great importance in realizing the goals in the field of artificial intelligence, “We aim to reach at least 50 thousand employment in the field of artificial intelligence in 2025.”
Stating that these technologies provide great convenience, especially in sectors that require repetitive and intense calculations, Varank said, “It is predicted that artificial intelligence technologies will have a greater impact on the global economy than the internet revolution. The digitalization process, which has already been experienced at great speed, has accelerated with the effect of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic. In this process, the forced social distance restrictions have increased the use of communication and artificial intelligence applications.”
“Embracing technological change is the only rational way”
Pointing out that technologies with artificial intelligence will be an indispensable part of economic and social life in the near future, Varank made the following assessment:
“In 2020, artificial intelligence expenditures around the world are estimated to be approximately $50 billion. The market size of these technologies will at least double in the next 5 years. It is expected that artificial intelligence will contribute $13-16 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and provide a growth of around 13%. Of course, as these technologies enter our lives more widely, the need for some jobs and services will gradually decrease.”
Noting that there is a concern that artificial intelligence and robotic technologies will cause widespread unemployment, Varank said:
“These concerns are the result of evaluations made with a narrow perspective. Recently, an opposition MP sent me a parliamentary question. ‘How many people do you expect to be unemployed with the use of artificial intelligence technologies?’ he asked. This incomplete perspective ignores the fact that lost jobs will be replaced by much more creative and knowledge-intensive ones. When we examine the history of technology and industry, we see countless examples of lost and emerging businesses. It is obvious that this process will continue in the same way in the future. Therefore, instead of resisting technological change, adopting, assimilating and managing it is the only rational way. Because the countries lagging behind in this race are at risk of losing their current economic savings. Our duty here is to ensure that this transformation takes place in the most beneficial way to society and not to leave anyone behind.”
“We took our place among the few countries”
Varank, stating that with the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Turkey is one of the few countries that publish strategies in the field of artificial intelligence, reminded that they have determined special topics for the development of disruptive technologies in the Industry and Technology Strategy.
Stating that they have implemented comprehensive policies that will raise Turkey to the position of a producer, not a market, of critical technologies within the framework of this understanding, Varank stated that they will take steps to carry this forward with the Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
Emphasizing that they set ambitious but viable goals in the strategy, Varank said:
“We aim to increase the contribution of artificial intelligence technologies to our national product to 5% in 2025. We aim to make our country rank in the top 20 in international artificial intelligence indexes. We will make our moves towards this. The results of the global innovation index will be announced soon. We have done serious work there recently, hopefully we will see our country rise to the top. The first condition for achieving these goals is to have qualified human resources to guide artificial intelligence technologies. We aim to reach at least 50 thousand employment in this field by 2025. For this reason, we have determined very important measures to train qualified human resources. We continue to implement many policies and programs in this regard. We will further accelerate our efforts in this area with the measures we have determined in the strategy.”
“We managed to attract the attention of the whole world”
Stating that another prerequisite for reaching the goals in the field of artificial intelligence is the development of entrepreneurship through the dissemination of R&D and innovation culture, Varank stated that they encourage the private sector to invest in R&D with infrastructure and project-based supports.
Drawing attention to the developments in the R&D and innovation ecosystem during the AK Party governments, Varank explained the programs they implemented through TUBITAK, KOSGEB and development agencies.
Emphasizing that the startup ecosystem in the country has managed to attract the attention of the whole world with the “unicorns” it has recently released, Varank said, “We will further activate our support with the measures determined in our Artificial Intelligence Strategy and we will launch new unicorns in this area.”
“Open Science” policy
Minister Varank said that data and data processing infrastructures are one of the main determinants of breakthroughs in the field of artificial intelligence.
Stating that the volume and quality of the data produced in the world is increasing day by day thanks to 5G and beyond, connected technologies, the internet of things and digital platforms, Varank said:
“With the fast-growing data production, supercomputers are one of the leading technologies driving digital transformation. We have important studies on these issues, both within the body of TUBITAK and through international collaborations. At TUBITAK BILGEM Information Technologies Institute, we develop national and original solutions that can be used in the field. Safir Cloud, Safir Big Data, Safir Warehouse and Safir Intelligence are our important projects in the storage and processing of big data.”
Varank stated that the “Open Science” policy they implemented with TUBITAK ULAKBIM is a good example they have developed in this field, and stated that with this study, they ensure the storage and management of data produced in projects carried out or supported by TUBITAK.
Emphasizing that they also take care to benefit from international opportunities in data processing infrastructures, Varank made the following assessment:
“In this direction, we became a member of the European High-Performance Computing Joint Initiative. We are establishing a high-performance computing competence center in our country as part of the EuroCC Project. We are carrying out this project with the contributions of METU and Sabanci universities under the coordination of TUBITAK ULAKBIM. Together with the measures we have determined in the strategy, we will activate many new projects that will improve our competencies in the field of high-performance computing in the coming period.”
“We will announce the call for proposals soon”
Noting that the building of institutional capacity as well as infrastructures is of great importance in terms of continuing the work in the field of artificial intelligence, Varank reminded that they established an Artificial Intelligence Institute at TUBITAK.
Informing that they have also created a “Sectoral Co-Development Laboratory” within the institute, which will act as a catalyst that will activate the artificial intelligence ecosystem, Varank continued as follows:
“In this laboratory, we will provide infrastructure and data fields support for the development and testing of multi-stakeholder artificial intelligence applications. Today, for the first time, I would like to talk about a new TEYDEB support program that we will implement within this laboratory and our Artificial Intelligence Institute. With this support, we will ensure that technology companies and universities in our country develop artificial intelligence solutions that the industry needs in the areas we have identified as a priority, namely smart production systems, smart agriculture, smart finance and climate change. With this support program to be implemented in an innovative model, we will enable our industrialists to access artificial intelligence solutions more quickly and effectively. We will ensure that the knowledge gained as a result of each project is disseminated to other stakeholders of the ecosystem. We will announce the call for proposals in the near future. I especially recommend our private sector to follow this program.”
“Will make a great contribution to global competitiveness”
Although it is known that the use of artificial intelligence will continue to accelerate, Varank stated that it is unclear how the social and economic effects of this process will be shaped, and said:
“In our strategy, we aimed to create an ecosystem that tries, discovers, learns and constantly updates itself in this direction. We are aware that our socioeconomic structure should not be adversely affected by this transformation process. We have designed the application processes to take these sensitivities into account. We have paid attention to include the ideas and suggestions of all relevant parties in our National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which we have prepared with a participatory approach. In addition, we have designed a comprehensive governance mechanism that will coordinate the implementation, monitor the entire process and its effects, and take regulatory and corrective measures when necessary. Thanks to this strategy, we will witness together that more value is produced from data in our country with artificial intelligence applications in the coming period.”
Expressing that he believes the strategy will improve the country’s artificial intelligence ecosystem and make great contributions to global competitiveness, Varank thanked all institutions and organizations that supported the preparation process of the strategy and the Presidency Digital Transformation Office.
Pointing out that Informatics Valley, where the introductory meeting was held, also contributed actively to the studies, Varank said that the name of this place will be heard more in the field of artificial intelligence as in other technology fields in the future.
Digital twins on stage
Ali Taha Koc, President of the Presidency Digital Transformation Office, also made a presentation on Turkey’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy at the event.
The digital twins of Minister Varank and President Koc, produced using artificial intelligence and hologram technologies, also talked to digital assistants named Bilge and Bilgin.
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz