A graduation ceremony was held for 1,600 young people who successfully completed the 12-week training program as part of the “Artificial Intelligence at Work” project, carried out in collaboration between the Esenler Municipality and the Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA). The ceremony, held at the Yıldız Technical University Congress and Culture Center, was attended by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and Esenler Mayor Mehmet Tevfik Göksu, along with numerous students and guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that by allocating approximately $3 billion in public funds to data center and artificial intelligence investments, they would mobilize $10 billion in private sector investment. Minister Kacır said, “We will allocate at least 2 percent of total public spending within our own investment program to artificial intelligence projects, thereby generating over 1 trillion lira in value for the national economy.” 

Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, Rector of Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ), explained that sustainable and fully independent growth is only possible when built on the solid foundations of the three pillars of education, technology, and development, and noted that artificial intelligence is changing paradigms across all fields.

Noting that the artificial intelligence model developed by the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering—which they recently established to offer instruction in English—has turned their ambitions in this field into tangible success, Debik added:

“The pace of this transformative power is dizzying. To keep up with this pace, we must carry out the necessary work without delay. Because the best way to predict the future is to invent it. As universities and technology parks—the heart of science and technology—we must roll up our sleeves and work alongside our government agencies and entrepreneurs. Our university bears the historic responsibility of assuming academic and practical leadership in this strategic field."

Click here to read the full Anadolu Agency (AA) news article.

Click here to read the full story from Demirören News Agency (DHA).

Click here to read the full Hürriyet article.

Click here to read the full article from Milliyet.

Click here to read the full CNNTURK article.

Click here to read the full story from SABAH.

Click here to read the full story from Haber7.

Click here to read the full story from Posta.

Click here to read the full article from Nefes.

Click here to read the full story from Star.

Click here to read the full story from Akit.