Technological progress must remain firmly centered on human accountability, Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir stated, cautioning that autonomous artificial intelligence systems cannot be allowed to function without clear responsibility. Speaking on Saturday during a panel titled "Navigating Responsibility in the Age of AI," Kacir warned that increasing AI autonomy raises serious concerns regarding transparency, safety, and governance.
"We can delegate authority to AI, but we cannot delegate responsibility," Kacir emphasized during his address, highlighting key vulnerabilities such as algorithmic discrimination, cybersecurity risks, deepfakes, and market monopolization.
Addressing the growing centralization of technology, Kacir noted that industry entities created more than 90 percent of the world's notable frontier AI models in 2025. Furthermore, an estimated 70 percent of global AI computing power is currently concentrated in the hands of just five companies. To counter these imbalances and risks, he advocated for a human-centred, risk-based regulatory framework that enforces stricter safeguards and meaningful human oversight for high-consequence AI applications.
Outlining national targets under Türkiye’s 2026–2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, Kacir expressed the country's vision to rank among global leaders in AI innovation. The strategic plan sets goals to provide AI literacy training to 5 million citizens, train 10,000 advanced AI experts, and develop 100,000 AI professionals. In addition, the government will make at least 2,000 public datasets accessible to researchers and entrepreneurs.
To support growing computational demands, Türkiye aims to expand its data centre power capacity to at least one gigawatt by 2030 while attracting at least $10 billion in private-sector-led investments across data centres, cloud computing, and AI infrastructure.
Kacir also revealed that the initial release of BILGE, Türkiye’s national large language model, will soon be made available to software developers to enhance domestic technological independence. The country plans to introduce regulatory sandboxes in key sectors alongside an AI Ethics Board dedicated to safeguarding privacy, combating discrimination, and protecting children's safety. On the international stage, Kacir reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to shaping global AI governance in cooperation with bodies including the UN, G20, OECD, UNESCO, and the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS).
