Yandex introduces AI-powered search engine designed for Turkish users, Yazeka

Yandex Search Türkiye CEO Alexander Popovskiy introduced Yazeka, which launched in December as the Russian technology giant’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered search engine specifically designed for Turkish users. It aims to become “a long-term, reliable partner” of Türkiye, according to Popovskiy.

Speaking at a business event organized by Yandex Türkiye on the sidelines of the Bloomberg Summit in Istanbul on Friday, Popovskiy discussed the company’s investments in Türkiye, contributions to the digital ecosystem, and future strategies.

Highlighting Yandex’s growth strategy in the country, Popovskiy said Yazeka offers a unique approach to traditional search models by relying on trusted references.

“Yandex is committed to developing cutting-edge technology and improving infrastructure through large-scale investments, with the goal of being a long-term, reliable partner for Türkiye,” said Popovskiy.

“We are determined to leverage local talent to refine our solutions for Turkish users, ensuring our products remain up-to-date and, above all, useful. We believe our expertise in search technology and artificial intelligence, combined with user-focused localized services, will further strengthen our position in Türkiye,” he remarked.

$400M investment in Türkiye

Popovskiy also emphasized the importance of creating an investment-friendly infrastructure, accelerating digital transformation, and fostering fair competition to support a thriving high-tech ecosystem in Türkiye.

He said Yandex supports the Turkish Competition Authority’s efforts to ensure an open and competitive market, adding that such an approach is essential for driving innovation and providing higher-quality digital solutions for both consumers and businesses.

Yandex will continue to explore new partnerships and projects to reinforce its presence in Türkiye and further contribute to the country’s digital economy, Popovskiy added. He emphasized that Yandex’s return to the Turkish market is not a revival of its previous search operations but a complete reinvention of its technology.

Yandex has already been operating several services in Türkiye, including video streaming and navigation, Popovkiy said and highlighted that the company’s primary focus remains on search technology. Launching Yazeka in Türkiye in December was the company’s first step toward the goal after it announced its intention to invest $400 million in Türkiye.

“Our new-generation search is fully powered by AI. Unlike traditional search engines that force users to sift through multiple pages and websites, our AI-driven model provides instant, comprehensive answers in seconds, even for complex queries,” he explained.

‘Finding engine’ rather than search engine: Yazeka

One of Yazeka’s distinguishing features, according to Popovskiy, is its real-time information verification. He pointed out the shortcomings of conventional AI chatbots that may provide outdated or unreliable responses, whereas Yazeka guarantees that its answers are based on the most recent, credible sources.

“For example, if you ask a traditional AI chatbot about yesterday’s football match results, it might not provide a reliable answer. Yazeka, on the other hand, ensures that all answers are sourced from credible, up-to-date data,” he said. “We are no longer calling ourselves a search engine, we are a finding engine.”

Yandex has already demonstrated a strong commitment to Türkiye, investing $120 million in the country last year.

Popovskiy confirmed plans to significantly increase investment over the next two years to further enhance the company’s AI-powered search technology.