Selçuk Bayraktar urges digital sovereignty and warns of AI‑driven tech monopolies at Turkey AI summit

At the Turkey AI Summit in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan unveiled the Turkey Artificial Intelligence Vision and Action Plan. Speaking at the event, aerospace entrepreneur Selçuk Bayraktar warned that the original promise of the internet—free information flow and global peace—has given way to a new form of domination. He said the greatest threat to national independence now comes from “techno‑capitalist” control over supply chains, data centres and the everyday devices people carry.

Bayraktar described how algorithms on social‑media and video platforms exploit neuro‑biological weaknesses, noting that “behind‑the‑scenes AI analyses our neurological vulnerabilities, triggers dopamine release and keeps us watching longer with fear‑, anger‑ and pleasure‑based content.” He argued that this creates a “voluntary captivity” that undermines health, cognition and freedom. Emphasising that civilian technologies are increasingly weaponised, he called for a collective effort to break the “spider‑web” of digital dependence and to ensure technology serves humanity rather than enslaving it.

The speech framed digital sovereignty as essential for preserving individual liberty and national security, urging policymakers and the public to resist the hegemony of a few global technology giants.