Opening Program of AI’NTEP – Artificial Intelligence Festival, Co-organized by Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU), OSB Technopark, and Türkiye İş Bankası – AI Factory, Held with High Attendance at HKU Congress and Culture Center
In collaboration with Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU), OSB Technopark, and Türkiye İş Bankası – AI Factory, the AI’NTEP – Artificial Intelligence Festival, kicked off with the motto “Turkey’s Most Productive Festival,” aiming to bring together sector leaders, experts, academics, students, software developers, practitioners, and everyone interested in or utilizing artificial intelligence. The opening program took place at HKU Congress and Culture Center with a significant turnout. Attendees included Gaziantep Deputy Governor Murat Akyüz, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Halil Uğur, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce President Tuncay Yıldırım, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry President Adnan Ünverdi, protocol members, businesspeople, managers, experts, faculty members, and students.
In his opening speech, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli emphasized that today, artificial intelligence goes far beyond facilitating human life, improving business processes, and opening doors to new innovations. He stated, “We believe that humanity is intelligent enough to find ways to remain ‘human’ even if it is kneaded, blended, and even shaken by artificial intelligence technologies. However, it is now crucial to move beyond the phase of experiencing artificial intelligence and to start determining and implementing strategies. This applies to institutions as well. At HKU, we have set our strategy. HKU, aiming to be a practical research university that reconstructs the future of individuals, industry, the region, and society with its innovations, prioritizes personalized education applications, cultivates innovative entrepreneurs, and conducts pioneering practical research guiding the business world. Within this strategy, we are determined to leverage the power of artificial intelligence in our education, teaching, and research processes. As an indicator of this determination and as a first step, we will introduce our ‘Productive AI-Based Intelligent Education Assistant’ application, which we have developed as a first in Turkey, within the scope of this festival. With this productive AI application, integrated with our university’s ‘student information/management system,’ our students will easily access academic course materials, conduct course-based queries and interactions, and enhance their learning speed and quality. This festival, which we have organized together, prepares a strong environment to discover the latest AI trends, meet industry leaders, and evaluate career and entrepreneurship opportunities in this field, while its activities like the AI hackathon/marathon and similar events will create new channels and networks for those who want to shape the future of AI.”
Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce President Tuncay Yıldırım said, “The age of artificial intelligence opens many new doors for us. Behind these doors lie great opportunities in science, industry, health, education, and many other fields. I hope the AI’NTEP – Artificial Intelligence Festival will be an important starting point for using these doors correctly and benefiting from these technologies in the best way possible. Universities are the cornerstone of Turkey’s bright future and development. I extend my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, OSB Technopark, Türkiye İş Bankası – AI Factory, and all participants for hosting us today and for their efforts in organizing the festival.”
Gaziantep Chamber of Industry President Adnan Ünverdi, expressing his excitement and happiness to be in front of the young participants, stated that the most distinguishing feature of humans from AI is emotion. He said, “You are our hope, our future. You are the ones who will carry this country into tomorrow. Gaziantep is a city that stands out with its industry and is Turkey’s sixth-largest economic province. I believe that together with you, we will strive to integrate AI into our industry. Therefore, your adoption of this technology and your efforts to integrate it into industry will contribute to Turkey’s economic growth.”
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Halil Uğur stated that the AI’NTEP Festival would be very beneficial and productive. He said, “All the parks we have built in Gaziantep are controlled by artificial intelligence. AI systems can inform us about a lost child, a suspicious package, or a situation during a fight. As Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, our transportation system, which is unique in Turkey and exemplary worldwide, and all our points are controlled by AI to manage traffic congestion. I believe that our city, Gaziantep, will be known as a science city and will be one of Turkey’s leading cities in AI studies.”
Gaziantep Deputy Governor Murat Akyüz shared his story of getting acquainted with artificial intelligence, stating that AI has started to impact almost every aspect of our lives. He said, “By the end of this two-day AI’NTEP Festival, we will have discovered different aspects of AI, learned about various application areas, and understood how the future will be shaped together.”
The AI’NTEP Artificial Intelligence Festival, consisting of three main elements – hackathon marathon, conference series, and exhibition activities, will last for two days. Panels will cover AI in health, education, agriculture, and the financial sector, as well as sustainability and AI, smart cities, and AI. A 48-hour hackathon marathon will aim to develop innovative AI-based projects, showcasing the latest AI solutions and products for discovering innovations in the AI world and building strategic business relationships.
