Turkey AI policy and 2026-2030 Action Plan

Turkey is advancing a comprehensive national strategy to transition into a global leader in artificial intelligence. This movement began in late July 2026, when Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced specific ecosystem initiatives at the TOBB Business AI Summit. These included 62 funded collaboration projects, the establishment of the TÜBİTAK AI Institute, and the adaptation of Turkish large-language models for ten strategic projects. Minister Kacır warned that nations failing to build digital infrastructure risk becoming “digital pariahs”.

Following this, the Milli İstihbarat Akademisi (National Intelligence Academy) released a report by Prof. Dr. Talha Köse, framing AI and critical technologies as central to international competition. The report urged Turkey to adopt a technopolitical doctrine—utilizing technorealist, technopragmatist, and techno-humanist approaches—while leveraging defense-industry expertise to ensure national security.

On 23 August 2026, Turkey formalized these efforts by launching the 2026-2030 Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. This roadmap aims to provide AI literacy to 5 million citizens within 24 months and attract 500 international experts. Key components include the creation of a national data library, a National AI Ethics Committee, and the transfer of robotics and autonomous systems expertise from the defense sector to civilian applications, such as healthcare and elderly support. The plan also focuses on the professional transformation of one million workers to support this digital shift.

Concurrently, concerns regarding the societal impact of these technologies have emerged. A TEDMEM report noted that 40% of AI users in Turkey are under the age of 25, raising warnings of “cognitive transfer”, where analysis is outsourced to machines, and “emotional transfer”, where tech companies could influence the beliefs of young people. To address these risks, TEDMEM has proposed an “AI License” for high school graduates to ensure ethical usage.