Trkiye: Trkiye stands out as an important destination for artificial intelligence (AI) with its strong engineering talent, government support, and numerous technology parks, the vice president of major technology event GITEX said. Bilal Alrais noted the impressive turnout from banks and manufacturing companies across Trkiye, as well as interest from regions as distant as South Africa and Kenya.
According to Anadolu Agency, representatives from more than 70 countries attended the two-day event, which was hosted by the country's Investment and Finance Office alongside the Industry and Technology Ministry on September 9-10. Anadolu served as the global communications partner for the event.
Alrais emphasized that Trkiye provides a strategic environment for AI development due to the scale of its market, the quality of its engineers, and the country's understanding of AI applications. He highlighted the government's support in helping startups scale and allowing small- and medium-sized enterprises to grow rapidly, describing Trkiye as a "perfect sandbox" for companies aiming to utilize AI and expand globally.
The event showcased the presence of 120 startups, underscoring Trkiye's robust technological landscape. Alrais noted that numerous technology parks, specifically 10 or 11, were represented at the exhibition, highlighting innovations from cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Trkiye's abundance of R and D centers has generated significant excitement about the new technologies emerging from the country.
Looking to the future, Alrais announced that GITEX's Abu Dhabi edition will host the world's largest AI event in October. The organization also plans to expand its global footprint by announcing new events in Latin America, Italy, and Serbia. Alrais explained that the focus on AI intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of ChatGPT, with the technology sector now paying much more attention to data centers. He noted that AI development relies heavily on data centers, creating new challenges such as energy management that the industry must address.