Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz, emphasized the necessity of regulations that consider the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing the importance of a balanced approach. “Neither over-regulation nor complete deregulation is appropriate. We must shape the middle ground together,” he said at the 9th AI Tomorrow Summit, organized by the Artificial Intelligence Policies Association (AIPA).
Yılmaz delivered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s greetings and noted the significance of Türkiye’s vision for high technology within the “Century of Türkiye.” He praised AIPA’s pioneering role in civil society initiatives related to AI and expressed confidence in the summit’s potential to generate visionary outcomes.
Highlighting the rapid evolution of AI, Yılmaz noted that the technology is no longer just a tool for data analysis but now includes generative capabilities, producing original ideas, content, and solutions. “AI is a horizontal technology, influencing numerous sectors simultaneously. From digital assistants helping us plan our day to wearables detecting health risks—AI is becoming an invisible yet integral part of our lives,” he explained.
Yılmaz cited international examples of AI success, such as an AI system passing Japan’s national medical licensing exam, another scoring 90/100 on the U.S. bar exam, and a Chinese AI model outperforming expert radiologists in cancer detection. “This breathtaking momentum reminds us that we must move forward not only with technology, but also with vision, ethics, and a human-centered approach. And we don’t have much time to lose,” he warned.
A Human-Centered Approach and the Need for Regulation
Yılmaz underlined the importance of a skilled workforce and strategic investments in digital economy as the two main pillars for AI development. “Technological power can only be carried into the future through a strong synergy between these two dynamics,” he said.
He cautioned that AI should not deepen societal inequalities and must instead promote social justice and inclusivity. “If we fail to ensure this, we risk increasing global and domestic inequalities,” he added.
Calling for a balanced regulatory framework, Yılmaz warned, “If you overdo regulation, you may hinder innovation and dynamism. But leaving the field unregulated is also dangerous. We must protect the balance between innovation and control by implementing flexible, adaptive frameworks.”
Government Coordination and Strategic Planning
Yılmaz stressed that under President Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye is advancing AI initiatives in a coordinated manner across all ministries, with the Ministry of Industry and Technology playing a leading role. He also referred to the government’s investment incentives and workforce training programs tailored to emerging professions like AI regulation consulting and digital healthcare assistance.
He emphasized the need to update education curricula and forecast the future of work. “We are laying the foundations of a smarter, more effective, and citizen-focused public administration through AI-driven digital transformation,” he said, highlighting the role of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Steering Committee, which he chairs.
National Strategy and Sectoral Applications
Yılmaz shared key goals from the National AI Strategy and Action Plan, including:
- Development of Turkish-language large language models,
- Strengthening international collaborations,
- Promoting local AI applications, and
- Establishing a competitive processor infrastructure in Türkiye.
He noted advancements in defense with AI-powered cognitive electronic warfare, and improvements in early diagnosis rates in healthcare via AI-assisted mammography systems. “Early detection significantly increases treatment success,” he remarked.
In urban planning and disaster management, AI has been integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for rapid emergency response and damage assessment. Smart city projects are also leveraging AI for data-driven management, energy efficiency, and sustainable resource use.
AI Model for Personalized News and Ethical Governance
Yılmaz announced that the Directorate of Communications is developing a personalized news-tracking AI model based on users’ interests and daily schedules, which will be operated by “Bilge Uz,” an AI assistant.
He underscored that ethics and regulatory aspects are integral to all AI initiatives in Türkiye. Yılmaz pointed to a recent AI summit in the Grand National Assembly, led by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, as evidence of high-level commitment.
Türkiye is also actively aligning its AI regulations with the Council of Europe and the European Union, contributing diligently to international compliance efforts. “Our approach to technology centers on humanity, strengthens society, and envisions a future we build together—with intellect, effort, and conscience,” Yılmaz stated.
Concluding his speech, Yılmaz reminded stakeholders not to forget natural intelligence amidst AI advancements and called on all participants to use the summit as a platform for high-impact collaboration. “We aim to become a pioneering and rule-setting nation in the global AI race with our human-centered Türkiye model,” he said.
The summit, held in Ankara, was attended by Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, AK Party Deputy Chair Ömer İleri, AIPA Founder Zafer Küçükşabanoğlu, Advisory Board Chair Erdem Erkul, and delegates from 15 countries. The program was also broadcast live in 15 countries.
Source: Foreks/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök