Türkiye's National Intelligence Academy kicks off AI, society, security workshop

​​​​​​​By Utku Simsek

ANKARA (AA) - The "Artificial Intelligence, Society, and Security Workshop," organized by Türkiye's National Intelligence Academy (NIA), began Friday in Ankara with experts from various disciplines.

NIA President Talha Kose emphasized the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in security and intelligence, comparing its effect to the Industrial Revolution.

“We foresee that revolutionary advancements in artificial intelligence will structurally transform security and intelligence,” said Kose. “As Türkiye, we cannot fall behind in this transformation.”

Kose highlighted AI’s potential to reshape societies, economies and global power dynamics, noting the emergence of new challenges like data sovereignty, processor power competition and the race for rare elements.

“Digital transformation will create a brand-new economy and society,” he said. “This society is unlike anything we’ve known so far, and understanding and guiding this change is essential.”

The workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and strategic foresight.

“We believe dialogue between experts from different disciplines can lead to more qualified, solution-oriented responses to critical issues,” he said.

He also underscored the importance of institutional adaptation, particularly in intelligence and security.

“Institutions must not lag behind this transformation,” he said, highlighting AI’s role in restructuring decision-making processes and addressing challenges in cybersecurity, crisis management and strategic analysis.

While AI offers innovations across sectors like health, education and energy, Kose warned of associated risks: “Artificial intelligence brings serious discussions on data security, ethical responsibilities, and privacy."

The two-day event includes presentations, panels and discussions on AI’s societal and security implications.

Kose expressed hope that the workshop would contribute to innovative ideas and future strategies.

“To ensure Türkiye is among the leading actors in this transformation, we must accelerate our efforts,” he said.

The workshop concludes Saturday with expert discussions closed to the media.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul