Priorities are transparency, privacy and security

“National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Artificial Intelligence Institute Workshop”, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Presidency Digital Transformation Office, was held at Gebze TÜBİTAK campus on February 21-22. The workshop participants were Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, President of the Presidency Digital Transformation Office Dr. Ali Taha Koç, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, TÜBİTAK President Dr. Hasan Mandal as well as experts and scientists. Minister Varank announced that the artificial intelligence and machine learning platform developed in the “Cloud Computing and Big Data Laboratory” of TÜBİTAK BİLGEM will be used in the National Combat Aircraft project for the first time in the world in avionics.

Varank said that Turkey will be competing with all the power in the artificial intelligence arena. The workshop will play a critical role in shaping the artificial intelligence road map of Turkey and the ideas presented here will provide vital contributions to the disruptive technologies of Turkey and the planning in the coming period.

Expressing that the artificial intelligence technologies opens doors to many different risks besides many opportunities, Varank stated that they are trying to develop a holistic approach that takes into account ethical values. Minister Varank emphasized the road map to be followed while preparing the “National Artificial Intelligence Strategy” and said: “We will prioritize transparency, personal privacy and security. We will consider the opportunities and the challenges we face. We will use resources efficiently, focusing on the areas where we are strong. We will partner with other countries in accordance with the existing cooperation of our country. We will clearly demonstrate the professions of the future and the steps to plan the transformation in employment.”

President of the Presidency Digital Transformation Office Dr. Ali Taha Koç noted within the scope of the “Artificial Intelligence Strategy”; 16 Ministries, 9 affiliated institutions, 55 academicians, 103 field experts, 8 NGOs have been interviewed with and that the “Artificial Intelligence Strategy” is aimed to be completed with this workshop. Koç expressed that: “We believe that the artificial intelligence ecosystem will grow based on a legal infrastructure in our country and this will move Turkey into the future.”

Dr. Ali Taha Koç said that: “We realize the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop in order to become a technology producing country with the motto of “National Technology Movement” together with the cooperation of Presidency Digital Transformation Office, Ministry of Industry and Technology and TÜBİTAK. In line with our 2023 goals, being able to exist as a force in the competitive economy of tomorrow is only possible with an agile governance understanding that can interpret the implications of the day and age and implement them by making quick decisions. We are here today for ‘strong Turkey producing value out of data’. Koç thanked the participants for their contribution to the preparations for the “National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Document”.

Artificial intelligence protection algorithms: A significant agenda topic

Koç said that Artificial Intelligence systems are data based systems and added: “The data is considered as the oil of our age and it is the only source used in training and testing artificial intelligence systems. This obligation requires us to classify and label the data correctly. Because even if your data is coal, it turns into a diamond when it is labeled correctly. For this reason, we have to work to develop more reliable artificial intelligence systems. In our Office, we say ‘Turkey’s data will stay in Turkey’. In this sense, our artificial intelligence algorithms and models need to be protected just like our data. Malicious people can mislead, steal and as the worst case scenario, obtain a trained model with our national data and reverse engineering, even with a certain loss. Our critical data training models can be obtained after thousands of interrogations. In our workshop, how we need to protect our artificial intelligence algorithms is a significant agenda topic.”

Artificial intelligence technologies need to be based on ethical and legal infrastructures

Dr. Ali Taha Koç expressed that: “Artificial intelligence technologies should be based on ethical and legal infrastructures. It is an obligation that a legal system based on ethical principles is created and updated regularly for artificial intelligence. It is very important for us to encourage artificial intelligence systems to work towards the good of the whole society. In order to achieve this, the data to be used by artificial intelligence systems should be dealt with openly and efficiently. Because the use of artificial intelligence systems should contribute to social cohesion and cooperation, eliminating discrimination and providing global justice by providing equal access to artificial intelligence technologies. I would especially like to emphasize that an artificial intelligence ecosystem that is not built on ethical principles cannot be successful and sustainable. We believe that the artificial intelligence ecosystem will grow based on a legal infrastructure in our country and this will move Turkey into the future.”

We need a gradual transition

Koç told that: “We need a gradual transition so that innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, which will affect every area of life, can adapt to our modern life today. This transition, which we call ‘Digital Transformation’, brings opportunities that can lead to major leaps in the development level of countries. As the use of artificial intelligence becomes widespread, various concerns arise about how to protect privacy, ensure transparency, security and accountability. In order to overcome the concerns that may arise, our principles were determined as human-centered, fair, increasing social welfare, transparent, reliable, accountable, producing value from data and based on national and ethical values in our Artificial Intelligence Strategy. As of November 2019, a national AI strategy has been published in at least 50 countries worldwide to promote the use and development of artificial intelligence, according to OECD data. The strategic objectives included in the country strategies were Ecosystem Creation, Education/Awareness, Institutional Structure, Ethical Framework, Investment/Support, R&D, Standards/Legal Framework, Open Data Policy, Artificial Intelligence Solutions.”

“Considering the priorities of the ‘11th Development Plan’, the maturity of the data and technology infrastructure, the level of development of the institutional capacity and technology ecosystem, its importance for social welfare and national security; it turns out that it is necessary to use artificial intelligence technologies in the fields of education, health, manufacturing industry, defense and agriculture.” said Koç, adding that the focus of “National Artificial Intelligence Strategy” should be human and ethical values. Dr. Ali Taha Koç emphasized that: “Our goal in ‘Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem’ and in Turkey is to create a sustainable production based environment. By defining the “Data Access and Sharing Framework”, we should pave the way for research on artificial intelligence in our country. By extending the use of artificial intelligence technologies, we must first increase the efficiency of business and business processes in the public. By raising workforce and qualified human resources, we must make the artificial intelligence ecosystem sustainable. We should not forget that by determining the ethical and legal framework for the integration of artificial intelligence into social life, every artificial intelligence product to be produced must ensure that people increase their well-being.”