Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, our Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Kaan Aktan, and our Advisory Board Member, Barış Karakullukçu, attended the press conference held prior to the meeting.

“The artificial intelligence ecosystem has its thorns as well as its roses”

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, said that the event aims to bring together public institutions, the private sector, universities, and students to create a shared vision for the future: “For three years now, we have been bringing together scientists, public institutions, the business community, entrepreneurs, and our students to collectively envision Turkey’s future in artificial intelligence. Turkey has a well-trained workforce in this field, a developing infrastructure, and many ready-to-use solutions. Our next goal is to strengthen these achievements and extend the benefits to more institutions, businesses, and individuals.”

Stating that they want artificial intelligence to be used at all levels of education, research, and community service, Karasar said, “However, the AI ecosystem is a garden filled not only with roses but also with thorns. At this conference, we are addressing issues such as economic value, product development, human resources, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.”

Karasar also touched on our “universal” approach to education as a starting point. He explained that, thanks to agreements with international organizations such as the Cisco Networking Academy, students are offered the exact same curriculum as a student studying in New York, Chicago, or Berlin; and that through micro-credentials and interdisciplinary minor programs, students in different departments are also encouraged to apply artificial intelligence in their own professional fields. Artificial intelligence is also integrated into the university’s academic and administrative processes.

Alev Alatlı’s Legacy: A Critical Perspective on Technology

Karasar, paying tribute to our founder Alev Alatlı, said, “Even in her eighties, she closely followed developments in artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. She always reminded us that these must be scrutinized from human, ethical, and philosophical perspectives. The central theme of this gathering is precisely the direction that Professor Alev pointed out to us.” Karasar emphasized that all work must be evaluated in line with Alatlı’s understanding of “reason, morality, justice, and propriety,” alongside the needs of both the individual and society.

Highlighting the importance of businesses in Anatolia—particularly SMEs—having access to new technologies and expert support, Karasar said that their goal is to ensure producers in Anatolia can access the technologies that will enable them to compete comfortably with businesses in regions of the world considered to have an advantage in this digitalizing world.

Data Security Is the Top Challenge

Karasar, who also touched on the challenges of the age of artificial intelligence, noted that data security is the top priority: “There are risks such as data tampering or destruction in strategic areas. After all, a machine’s analytical power depends on the data it is given; protecting that data is one of the top priorities.” Karasar noted that in a world where data and artificial intelligence technology are concentrated in the hands of a few major tech companies, it is essential to both safeguard the country’s strategic interests and ensure that young people benefit as much as possible from advanced technologies.

Noting that special emphasis was placed on youth participation this year, Karasar said that space was made for young people’s work through student discussions, poster presentations, and demonstrations of artificial intelligence applications. At the conclusion of the event, a declaration is planned to be issued that will highlight shared priorities and areas of concern. Karasar added that they aim to contribute to the artificial intelligence action plans and roadmaps prepared by the public sector, in collaboration with participants from universities, the public sector, the private sector, and civil society.

A Thematic Technology Park Is Being Established in Nevşehir

Kaan Aktan, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, noted that the founding philosophy of Cappadocia University is to serve the community and support regional development. Noting that they have established partnerships with leading institutions in the aviation, healthcare, tourism, and gastronomy sectors, Aktan added that, most recently, the IT-related departments across various faculties were consolidated under the Faculty of Computer and Information Technologies last year.  Aktan said, “We currently have 17 technology programs at the bachelor’s and associate’s degree levels. From data security to artificial intelligence, and from programming to autonomous systems, we are training the workforce the industry needs.”

Aktan announced that efforts are underway to establish a Technology Development Zone in collaboration with the Nevşehir Municipality. He stated that the technology park, in which our university will serve as a primary founding partner, is currently in the establishment phase. The thematic technology park, which will be shaped according to the region’s needs and potential, is planned to focus on the fields of agricultural technologies, sustainable tourism, and sustainability technologies. Aktan noted that the park will bridge the gap between the research and initiatives developed at the university and the needs of the industry.

Aktan emphasized that artificial intelligence needs to be rolled out across Turkey: “We shouldn’t think of artificial intelligence merely as a means of developing technology. We need to ensure that the technologies we develop are rolled out across Turkey, can be used by businesses of all sizes, and can make a real impact. Artificial intelligence is a technology that can yield significant benefits with very small investments.”

“Proof of what can be achieved through collective intelligence”

Barış Karakullukçu, a member of the Advisory Board at Cappadocia University and part of the event’s organizing committee, said they set out three years ago with the belief that such initiatives should take place outside of Istanbul and Ankara as well. Karakullukçu said, “We believe that the ecosystem, industry, and society in Anatolia need to reach a better place by using artificial intelligence in an ethical and safe manner. This meeting clearly demonstrates what can be achieved through collective intelligence.”

Karakullukçu noted that the event included senior executives from Turkey’s leading companies, Turkish academics and technology leaders working in Turkey and around the world, as well as representatives from civil society organizations such as the Information Technology Foundation, TÜBİSAD, and the Artificial Intelligence Technology Association. Karakullukçu said that the implementation of the newly published Artificial Intelligence Action Plan would be discussed over the course of two days using concrete case studies.

Jobs Won’t Disappear—They’ll Transform

When asked at a press conference about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, Barış Karakullukçu said that AI won’t eliminate any profession but will transform those who practice it: “Radiology is one of the fields where AI excels, but a radiologist doesn’t just evaluate images; they make the diagnosis, communicate with the patient, and manage the process. The individual steps of the process will change, but the roles themselves will not disappear entirely.”

Kaan Aktan, meanwhile, emphasized that artificial intelligence is different from previous technological revolutions: “The rate of adoption is very high. It has become a technology that everyone has started using before its rules have been clarified and its full capabilities fully understood. This creates some unease, but we need to consider that over time, this will lead to a transformation in the workplace.” Rector Karasar also noted that responsibility cannot be transferred to machines; whoever uses any technology bears responsibility, and that person must necessarily be a human being.

Leading brands and academics from world-renowned universities take the stage

At the event, technology leaders from organizations such as Koç Holding, the Eczacıbaşı Group, Pegasus, Türk Telekom, Migros Online, PwC, and Amazon, as well as representatives from the telecommunications, aviation, food, and retail sectors, will share their experiences. Turkish academics from universities such as Stanford and Harvard—which are conducting pioneering research in the field of artificial intelligence—will also participate in the program. Artificial intelligence agents and the secure implementation of this technology within organizations are among the key topics. On Friday, a Demo Day will be held featuring successful AI startups.

Five books were published ahead of the event

Cappadocia University Press published five books on artificial intelligence ahead of the conference. Among the books is a booklet compiling artificial intelligence project and poster competitions organized for high school and college students, a memoir by Barış Karakullukçu recounting his journey in technology and artificial intelligence; a work addressing the strategic dimensions of artificial intelligence; a study on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and accountability authored by former Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Mahmut Özer and Prof. Dr. Altan Çakır from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ); and a book compiling the results of last year’s second conference.