Türkiye's AI Push: “Recognize, Leverage, Produce and Govern” — The Road to 2030

Türkiye Charts Its Course in Artificial Intelligence: “Recognize, Leverage, Produce and Govern”

Türkiye has outlined its roadmap for the artificial intelligence race with four words: Recognize, Leverage, Produce and Govern. Covering the 2026–2030 period, the Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan includes ambitious targets, ranging from AI workshops in all 81 provinces and training 5 million people to increasing data center capacity to 1 GW and mobilizing at least $10 billion in predominantly private-sector investment.

Artificial intelligence is no longer an issue limited to technology companies or scientists. From healthcare and defense to education, industry, agriculture and public services, AI is transforming almost every aspect of life and has become one of the most important areas of competition between countries.

Türkiye has now announced how it intends to navigate this race.

The Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, unveiled at the Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Summit in Istanbul, sets out the steps to be taken between 2026 and 2030.

What makes the plan particularly notable is that its goals are summarized in four key concepts:

Recognize. Leverage. Produce. Govern.

So, what do these four pillars mean for Türkiye’s AI journey?

1. RECOGNIZE: AI Will Reach Society As A Whole

The first stage of the plan focuses on awareness.

Türkiye aims to ensure that artificial intelligence is no longer a technology discussed only by specialists, but one that can be understood and used by broader segments of society.

As part of this effort, AI literacy workshops are planned in all 81 provinces.

The target is ambitious: 5 million citizens are expected to receive AI-related training within two years.

However, the human capital targets do not stop there.

The plan aims to train 10,000 advanced AI specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals.

In other words, the first step is clear: Türkiye wants to make the AI transformation accessible to as large a portion of society as possible.

2. LEVERAGE: AI Will Become Part Of The Public Sector And The Economy

At the second stage, the question changes:

How can we make greater use of artificial intelligence?

The plan aims to expand the use of AI across public services and different sectors of the economy.

Electronic government services are expected to be transformed through AI-supported public services, while at least 2% of public investment programs is planned to be allocated to AI projects.

Another key initiative is the introduction of AI vouchers to make AI technologies more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises operating in priority sectors such as healthcare, energy and smart manufacturing.

Data will also play a critical role at this stage.

The plan aims to make at least 2,000 public datasets accessible through the National Data Library, particularly in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, defense and e-commerce.

3. PRODUCE: Türkiye Aims To Develop Its Own AI Technologies

The third word is one of the most ambitious elements of the plan:

Produce.

Türkiye's goal is not simply to use artificial intelligence technologies developed elsewhere.

Instead, it aims to build an ecosystem capable of developing its own AI models, applications and technologies.

As part of this effort, the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Research Fund and an Artificial Intelligence Growth Fund is planned.

The objectives include supporting researchers and entrepreneurs, accelerating the growth of AI companies and establishing AI growth zones that will provide investors with ready-to-use infrastructure.

Work Is Also Underway On A Turkish Large Language Model

One of the most notable areas under this pillar is the development of Turkish large language models (LLMs).

Work is continuing on Bilge, a domestic language model being developed by TÜBİTAK, while various other institutions and organizations are also working on Turkish-focused large language model projects.

Through these efforts, Türkiye aims to move beyond being merely a user of AI technologies and instead develop technologies that place its own language and national needs at the center.

4. GOVERN: Türkiye Aims To Have A Say In The Future Of AI!

The final stage of the four-word roadmap perhaps reveals its biggest ambition:

Govern.

The objective is not simply to develop technology, but also to play a more active role in determining how AI should be used, which standards should be applied and how the technological order of the future should be shaped.

Under the plan, Türkiye aims to mobilize at least $10 billion in predominantly private-sector investment in data centers, cloud infrastructure and AI infrastructure.

Another major target is to increase Türkiye's data center capacity to at least 1 GW by 2030.

To accelerate the processes of international investors in Türkiye, the plan also envisions providing investors with a roadmap through a single-window system within a maximum of 30 business days.

Türkiye also aims to take a more active role in shaping human-centered AI standards through international platforms such as the OECD, G20 and United Nations.

Istanbul To Become An International AI Showcase

Another notable element of the plan is Istanbul.

The city is expected to be positioned as Türkiye’s international showcase for artificial intelligence and a center for investment diplomacy.

As part of this vision, Terminal Istanbul is planned to become an important hub connecting entrepreneurs with global investors.

A Major Ambition — Now Comes The Implementation

Türkiye’s AI roadmap can be summarized in four words:

• Recognize: Understand the transformation brought about by artificial intelligence.
• Leverage: Make use of the opportunities offered by the technology.
• Produce: Develop your own technologies.
• Govern: Have a say in the future rules and framework of artificial intelligence.

Training 5 million citizens, developing 10,000 advanced specialists and 100,000 AI application professionals, opening up 2,000 public datasets, reaching 1 GW of data center capacity, and mobilizing at least $10 billion in predominantly private-sector investment...

The numbers are ambitious.

But the real question begins now:

Will Türkiye become merely one of the countries that uses artificial intelligence, or will it join the group of nations that develop the technology and have a meaningful voice in shaping the rules of the future?

The Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Action Plan for 2026–2030 stands before us as one of the country's most comprehensive answers to this question.