Portrait of Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Artificial Intelligence

Advocate for national AI strategy (strong)

TL;DR

Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly supports developing a national Artificial Intelligence Strategy to secure technological autonomy and foster economic growth.

Key Points

  • He stated that Turkey aims to be among the top 20 countries in international Artificial Intelligence indices by 2025.

  • A presidential decree in late 2025 formally established the National Artificial Intelligence Directorate within the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

  • The 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy explicitly names artificial intelligence as a key focus area for enhancing technological independence.

Summary

The President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has articulated a strong positive position on Artificial Intelligence, viewing it as a critical technology for national development and global competitiveness. This stance is formally codified in the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) 2021-2025, which emphasizes making a human-oriented breakthrough in AI and building an agile, sustainable AI ecosystem for a prosperous Turkey. He frames participation in the field not as a choice but as one of the strongest pillars of the nation's development goals, aligned with the "Digital Turkey" vision and the "National Technology Initiative."

The strategy, which he introduced, prioritizes six areas, including training AI experts, boosting research and innovation, ensuring access to quality data and infrastructure, establishing ethical regulation, strengthening international cooperation, and managing structural transformation. The President views AI as having a greater expected impact on the global economy than the Internet revolution and seeks to leverage it to avoid being stuck between algorithms, stressing the importance of designing systems that reflect common values. Furthermore, he has attended high-level international forums, such as the G20, to discuss AI and critical minerals, signaling a commitment to shaping global policy in the field.

Key Quotes

"Taking part in the field of artificial intelligence is not a matter of choice,"

"We will create mega industrial parks, strengthen our defense technologies, and support key advancements in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence,"

Frequently Asked Questions

Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds a strongly positive position, viewing AI as vital for Turkey's development and global competitiveness. His administration has formally launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) to guide this development. He frames engagement with AI as essential to avoid technological stagnation in the modern world.

The available information points to a consistent and intensifying focus on incorporating AI into national strategy since at least 2021. The President has continued to champion AI in national technology roadmaps and at international forums like the G20. His government has recently bolstered the institutional framework by establishing a dedicated directorate.

The President has acknowledged that humanity is transforming from struggling with nature to becoming 'stuck between algorithms.' He believes that by actively participating in AI development, Turkey can create value for all of humanity by combining technological breakthroughs with its civilization experience. This development is seen as crucial for national security and economic growth.