Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz attended the AI Tomorrow Summit event organized by the Artificial Intelligence Policy Association.
Speaking here, Yılmaz said that every day we witness groundbreaking developments in terms of artificial intelligence applications, and that these developments occur at a speed that cannot be compared to any change in history.
Pointing out that the transformative effect of artificial intelligence is already felt in many areas of life, from education to agriculture, from the health sector to energy and economy, Yılmaz said that according to a study, the contribution of artificial intelligence to the global economy is estimated to reach approximately 15.7 trillion dollars by 2030, and this increase He stated that it is thought that $6.6 trillion will come from productivity and $9.1 trillion will come from the consumption effect.
Cevdet Yılmaz stated that in another study, the global gross national product is expected to increase by 14 percent in 2030, thanks to artificial intelligence-based technologies, and accordingly, artificial intelligence technologies are expected to contribute more to the global economy than the current economic size of China and India, according to a study conducted by the IMF. He noted that according to the research, approximately 40 percent of jobs worldwide will be affected by artificial intelligence.
Emphasizing that states should have solid artificial intelligence policies in order to make the most of the potential of artificial intelligence and minimize the risks in this field, Yılmaz said, “The data-based nature of artificial intelligence technology, on the one hand, requires the production of qualified data and the effective sharing of this data in the relevant ecosystem, and on the other hand, Therefore, in the field of artificial intelligence, while taking advantage of opportunities and evaluating them, we also need to manage the threats and risks it poses in many respects and manage them together. ” he said.
“WE HAVE ACHIEVED 50 PERCENT OF OUR ACTIONS”
Yılmaz explained that they continue their efforts to ensure coordination with artificial intelligence in the public sector with the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Steering Board Meetings and shared the following information:
“We have demonstrated our long-term perspective in this field with our National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which we published in 2021 and covers a period of 5 years. We have made significant progress in the first 2.5 years of the action plan we prepared within the scope of the strategy, and we have carried out approximately 50 percent of our actions. The focus of our strategy is In our current action plan, there are 32 actions aimed at training and employing experts in the field of artificial intelligence, and 9 of them directly focus on the structural transformation of the sector’s rapidly transforming needs. “Our other priority is to ensure its compatibility with the curriculum. If we do not match the content in our education system with the needs of our labor market, we cannot get healthy and effective results. Therefore, we have to build this bridge, this bond between the needs of the developing labor market and the education system in the field of artificial intelligence, as in every field.”
Stating that there are currently more than 40 artificial intelligence-focused master’s and doctoral programs and advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and robotics research centers in more than 30 universities in Turkey, and that there may be a university specialized in this field in the future, Yılmaz said that there will be 71 universities in the field of artificial intelligence in the future. He stated that it is planned to open 1,000 new associate and undergraduate programs, and that field-specific occupational standards and skill maps have been prepared.
Cevdet Yılmaz stated that it is very important for the young generation to adapt to groundbreaking technologies, and in this context, the Ministry of National Education has updated the education curriculum at all levels to include artificial intelligence issues and continues to open workshops in 81 provinces.
Yılmaz stated that with the Digital Young Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem project initiated by the Presidential Digital Transformation Office, they aim to gather artificial intelligence-related student clubs at universities under one roof and to further the work of young people with application-based training, competitions and post-training career support.
Stating that they attach great importance to the development of the artificial intelligence ecosystem and that they bring together the private sector and academia in artificial intelligence-focused studies and support joint studies with the artificial intelligence ecosystem calls implemented by TÜBİTAK, Yılmaz said, “There are currently approximately 750 artificial intelligence-focused startups in our country and thanks to public supports, this is possible.” “We expect the number to increase rapidly in the coming period.” he said.
“I BELIEVE WE WILL DO THIS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES”
Stating that advanced analytics and artificial intelligence applications are actively used in the public sector in Turkey, in areas such as fighting forest fires, analysis of crop fields, customs risk analysis, SME consultancy, defense industry and health support services, Yılmaz continued his words as follows:
“The main thing here is productivity and efficiency. As you know the other day, we announced a savings and efficiency package. Especially in this period, we did not just say savings package. We said savings and efficiency package. The essence of the matter is productivity. Producing more results with unit resources. Our country, our people, humanity I believe that we will do this much more effectively with new technologies. Therefore, it is very important that we not only consider social justice and social balances, but also that these technologies do not create new inequalities, and that we design a process that includes all social segments. On the other hand, the environmental dimension is also very important. I wholeheartedly believe that artificial intelligence can play very critical roles in our visions such as climate change, energy production in the use of basic resources such as water, and achieving the zero carbon target. I would like to express that we will continue to support efforts in these areas. “On the other hand, as a result of the intense work of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Digital Transformation Office, the negotiations that started in 2021 for participation in the Digital Europe Program were completed and our country was included in the program last year.”
Yılmaz noted that developing the technical infrastructures needed for artificial intelligence studies is another priority. In this context, there are various studies carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and that they also cooperate in technical infrastructures, especially with the European Union, under the coordination of TÜBİTAK and ULAKBİM.
Explaining that intense work is being carried out in the international arena to develop legislation and prepare technical standards on artificial intelligence, that they follow the international agenda closely and strive for the development of similar regulations and institutional structures, Yılmaz said that not only the public but also the private sector has a competitive position in artificial intelligence. He said that they need to contribute to this field so that they can exist in the world in this way, add value to their companies and reach Turkey’s artificial intelligence strategies more effectively. (AA)
