MIT economist Acemoglu urges Türkiye to accelerate AI integration

MIT Economics Professor Daron Acemoglu recently discussed the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on global economics and society during an interview on Bloomberg HT. Emphasizing AI as a transformative technology across all facets of life, Acemoglu stressed the critical need for ongoing discussions and debates surrounding its implementation.

Economic inequality and AI adoption

Acemoglu highlighted a 2019 study revealing that only 1.5% of American companies were investing in AI at the time, suggesting that early adopters of AI technologies are likely to thrive. He cautioned that this trend could exacerbate economic inequality by further boosting the growth of already advanced companies.

Turning to the potential benefits of AI for developing countries, Acemoglu pointed out its role in overcoming language barriers and enhancing sectors like healthcare.

Türkiye’s AI readiness

However, he noted disparities in readiness between Türkiye and Europe, attributing Türkiye’s lag partly to lower educational levels among its workforce and insufficient political engagement on AI issues. Acemoglu urged Turkish politicians to collaborate more closely with other developing nations to address this technological gap.

In addressing the transformation needed within Türkiye’s private and public sectors, Acemoglu advocated for increased media attention to AI and emphasized the importance of strategic AI adoption by companies. He highlighted AI’s potential contributions to public services and defense, suggesting substantial improvements could be made in Türkiye’s public systems through AI integration.