Türkiye Unveils 2026-2030 AI Action Plan to Establish Istanbul as Global Tech Hub

 

Türkiye Unveils 2026-2030 AI Action Plan to Establish Istanbul as Global Tech Hub

During a recent summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Türkiye’s comprehensive 2026-2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. The initiative mobilizes $10 billion toward expanding the nation's artificial intelligence infrastructure. A primary objective of the plan is to position Istanbul as a global hub for AI investment and an international showcase for technological advancement. Officials aim to leverage facilities such as Terminal Istanbul to foster "investment diplomacy" within the tech sector.

Sources:

• Daily Sabah: What to know about Türkiye's new AI action plan

• Anadolu Ajansı: Türkiye unveils 2026-2030 AI Action Plan at Istanbul summit

Global Accolades and Key Sustainability Forums Hosted in Istanbul

 

Global Accolades and Key Sustainability Forums Hosted in Istanbul

Istanbul continues to serve as a central hub for global progress and civic recognition. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, alongside the cities of Oulu and Stockholm, was announced as a winner of the top prizes at the Eurocities Awards 2026. Concurrently, international climate leaders, organizations, and businesses gathered at the Zero Waste Forum to launch the "Istanbul Platform: Zero Waste Package" aimed at accelerating climate action. Furthermore, the 18th PRIMO Forum brought global policymakers and World Bank experts to Istanbul to explore the advancement of AI-driven public procurement.

• Sources: Eurocities, Balkan Green Energy News, World Bank (Exact URLs not provided in source)

Istanbul Medipol University Contributes to Comparative AI Health Study

 

Istanbul Medipol University Contributes to Comparative AI Health Study

Researchers from the Social Pediatrics Department at Istanbul Medipol University have contributed to a comprehensive study evaluating the use of Artificial Intelligence in pediatric healthcare. The study, published in scientific journals, conducted a comparative analysis of major Large Language Models (LLMs)—including ChatGPT-4o, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Grok-4, and DeepSeek-V2—to test their reliability and readability when dispensing pediatric health advice.

The research assessed how these AI platforms responded to real-world, caregiver-style prompts. The findings revealed that while current LLMs can provide moderately useful health information and avoid overtly unsafe advice, they struggle to meet standard health-literacy targets. Responses often fluctuated between being highly reliable but too complex for average readers (e.g., college-level reading requirements) or highly readable but lacking structural rigor, highlighting the need for refinement before AI can be safely used for routine patient education.

Source: Nature / ResearchGate

AI-Generated 'Memory of Princess Mumbi' Takes Top Prize at Istanbul Film Festival

 

AI-Generated 'Memory of Princess Mumbi' Takes Top Prize at Istanbul Film Festival

Source: Variety

The Istanbul Film Festival has awarded its top prize to the innovative film "Memory of Princess Mumbi." Directed by Swiss-Kenyan filmmaker Damien Hauser, the project is notable for its use of artificial intelligence to recreate a futuristic vision of Africa. The victory underscores the growing intersection of advanced digital technology, such as generative AI, and traditional cinematic storytelling on the international festival circuit.