AI's potential misused to destroy civilians, warns head of Türkiye's TEKNOFEST

Artificial intelligence offers vast potential to improve humanity's future, but its most significant use today is for the destruction of civilians, Selcuk Bayraktar, head of the T3 Foundation and organizer of Türkiye's premier tech event, TEKNOFEST, said Wednesday.

Speaking in Adana, southern Türkiye, Bayraktar drew a parallel between AI and nuclear energy, noting that nuclear power, which could illuminate the planet and combat climate change, was first used in atomic bombs.

“A similar process is happening with AI,” he said, warning that the technology is being exploited for deadly purposes.

Bayraktar referenced the detonation of pager and wireless communication devices in Lebanon last September—an incident for which Beirut and Hezbollah blamed Israel—as examples of “monstrous acts of terrorism where bombs were placed in everyday objects, like phones and headphones, to kill civilians.”

“It is unacceptable for AI to be used to kill swaddling babies, and as TEKNOFEST, we will stand against this,” he declared.

Quoting philosopher Antonio Gramsci, Bayraktar remarked, “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” He warned that the global order is increasingly defined by power, violence, and cruelty rather than peace, justice, and mercy.

He highlighted the tragic situation in Gaza, where, he said, "babies, children, and innocent civilians are being slaughtered while the world watches." Institutions meant to preserve peace and justice, including the United Nations, have failed, he added, criticizing the erosion of guiding frameworks like the Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention.

- TEKNOFEST's growing impact

Bayraktar also spoke about the achievements of TEKNOFEST, noting that over the past seven years, participants have founded more than 150 companies, with some exporting to 21 countries and securing investments worth millions of liras.

He recalled that the event, held nine times in Türkiye and internationally in Azerbaijan, has hosted 10 million people and seen four million competition applicants.

For 2024, 1.6 million people have applied to compete in 50 fields, from nuclear energy to fintech, air defense, and blockchain.

TEKNOFEST plans to expand into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkic republics, and other friendly nations in the coming years, Bayraktar announced.

The 2024 edition of TEKNOFEST kicked off in Adana on Wednesday and will run until Sunday.