Küçükşabanoğlu assessed the strong emphasis placed on artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, digital transformation, research and development, and qualified human resources in the new Medium-Term Program prepared following Türkiye's Artificial Intelligence Action Plan.
Küçükşabanoğlu said this approach showed that artificial intelligence had become a fundamental element not only of technology policies but also of policies on development, production, employment and global competitiveness. He stated that research and development investments aimed at reducing Türkiye's dependence on foreign technology, as well as innovative entrepreneurship, should be supported.
Advanced technology fields to be prioritized
Küçükşabanoğlu said it was significant that the Medium-Term Program addressed artificial intelligence together with fields such as cybersecurity, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, space and satellite technologies, chips, blockchain and robotics.
Stating that Türkiye should not merely be a country that uses technologies developed elsewhere in the world, Küçükşabanoğlu said the goal should be to make Türkiye a country that develops domestic technologies, scales its startups globally, creates intellectual property and exports technology. He noted that the emphasis placed on research and development, technology entrepreneurship and high-value-added technology exports was important for achieving this goal.
Emphasis on qualified human resources
Küçükşabanoğlu stated that postgraduate education should be supported to train qualified human resources in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the defense industry and space technologies.
Drawing attention to the importance of expanding educational programs through cooperation among the public sector, universities and the private sector, Küçükşabanoğlu said qualified human resources would be one of the decisive factors in competition among countries. He described educating young people with the knowledge and skills required by the current era as an important investment in Türkiye's future.
Call for joint action
Küçükşabanoğlu said all stakeholders needed to act together for Türkiye to achieve its artificial intelligence goals. He stated that the private sector, universities, academic circles and civil society organizations should work together in line with the vision set out by the state.
Küçükşabanoğlu said AIPA had viewed artificial intelligence for approximately seven years as an area of economic, social and strategic transformation as well as a technological one. He stated that Türkiye should be among the countries that shape this transformation, rather than merely follow it. He added that AIPA would continue contributing to Türkiye's goals on its artificial intelligence journey.
