Artificial intelligence, which offers thinking, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills similar to human intelligence, is rapidly penetrating every aspect of our lives today as technology advances. In the upcoming years, artificial intelligence is expected to integrate even more into many areas of human life. Using artificial intelligence technology ChatGPT, we asked Zafer Danyıldız, General Manager of Global Positive Technologies. Danyıldız, who is also a member of the Editorial Board of PLASFED Magazine, welcomed us to the age of artificial intelligence, saying, "Welcome to the era of artificial intelligence."
Zafer Danyıldız, General Manager of Global Positive Technologies, stated that artificial intelligence is a significant technology that offers great opportunities for humanity, saying, "We need to closely follow developments in this field and continuously improve ourselves to seize opportunities and make the best use of what artificial intelligence offers."
Danyıldız expressed that witnessing the development of artificial intelligence is exciting for him, noting that he closely follows everything from local developments to all technological advancements in space. He explained that as Global Positive Technologies Inc., they continuously work to contribute to this development, training artificial intelligence models on a sectoral basis and integrating them into various fields, primarily e-commerce and CRM software.
We spoke with Zafer Danyıldız using ChatGPT about the opportunities and risks artificial intelligence presents to humanity for PLASFED Magazine…
First, can you tell us what artificial intelligence is?
Artificial intelligence is a branch of engineering and science that enables computers and machines to exhibit thinking, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills similar to human intelligence. Simply put, artificial intelligence is the process of enabling a computer to "think like a human" or "imitate human behavior."
Who invented artificial intelligence, and since when have we been talking about it?
Among the key figures who laid the foundations of artificial intelligence in its modern sense are British mathematician Alan Turing and American computer scientist John McCarthy. Alan Turing brought the concept of "Machine Intelligence" to the scientific community's agenda by discussing the possibility of a machine being able to think in the 1950s. John McCarthy first introduced the term "Artificial Intelligence" at the Dartmouth Conference he organized in 1956, which is considered the starting point for artificial intelligence being regarded as a separate scientific field.
What is the contribution of artificial intelligence to humanity?
The contribution of artificial intelligence (AI) to humanity is quite extensive and profound. For example, in the health sector, thanks to intelligent systems capable of detecting diseases in advance and providing personalized treatments, more effective and faster treatment processes have become possible. In education, AI facilitates learning by offering personalized content tailored to each student's individual learning pace and style, also enabling teachers to provide more guidance to students.
In the manufacturing and industry sectors, robotic automation and AI-supported management systems increase efficiency and offer people the opportunity to focus on creative and high-value-added areas by freeing them from repetitive and physically demanding jobs.
Can you outline a future vision?
In the upcoming years, artificial intelligence is expected to integrate even more into many areas of human life. For instance, in fields that require complex data analysis, significant advances can be made with the speed and accuracy advantage of artificial intelligence. AI can examine the increasing amount of data in scientific research, opening the way for new discoveries.
Furthermore, with transformations in education and the business world, more flexible, remote, and hybrid work models will become widespread; new professions and roles will emerge. On the other hand, artificial intelligence will play a key role in the development of new technologies such as smart homes, smart cities, and smart factories.
While there are positive effects of artificial intelligence, there are also negative impacts. What kind of problems might artificial intelligence bring us in the future?
Automation could eliminate or transform many professions. This situation may force employees to acquire new skills and shift to different sectors, potentially leading to unemployment and social tensions in the short term. The extensive data usage in AI applications increases the risk of cyberattacks and data leaks. Protecting personal information may become increasingly difficult, and AI-assisted attack methods could become more effective.
Artificial intelligence can cause injustices in decision-making mechanisms by replicating biases in the datasets on which it is trained. For instance, discrimination could increase in hiring, credit approval, or judicial systems. Particularly, the "black box" nature of deep learning systems makes it difficult to understand and audit how decisions are made. This can lead to challenges in legal and democratic processes.
While artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to facilitate human life and contribute to the development of new technologies across many sectors, there are also some concerns and risks associated with AI technology. How should we take precautions against the existing risks?
While artificial intelligence has the potential to transform many sectors, precautions against the accompanying risks are essential. First, data security and anonymity must be ensured, and robust cybersecurity measures should be implemented. Companies collecting large data should be audited to comply with responsible data processing principles.
Data sets should be free of bias, and missing or erroneous data should be cleaned. Potential discrimination should be detected through regular audits and tests, and human oversight should be activated if necessary.
Methods that can explain the decision-making processes of AI models should be developed. Decision-makers and users should be able to see which data are used and the margins of error. Every segment of society should have a basic understanding of artificial intelligence technologies. Awareness should be raised through internal training in companies, university curricula, and civil society activities. Since AI is rapidly evolving, rules and precautions should continually be reviewed and updated. Both the public and private sectors should enhance legal and ethical regulations by keeping up with innovations in technology.
How much share does Turkey have in the artificial intelligence market? What is the size of the market in the world?
As of 2023, Turkey's share of the artificial intelligence market has been identified as approximately 600 million dollars. The city with the largest share in this market is Istanbul, where the most prevalent sectors for AI usage are finance, automotive, and healthcare.
Globally, the artificial intelligence market is projected to reach 1.5 trillion dollars by 2024. This growth is continuously increasing in connection with the rapid development of technology and its widespread application across various sectors. AI technologies, which are expected to create a market worth 16 trillion dollars by 2030, play a critical role in both economic value creation and social and industrial transformations. In this context, leveraging the opportunities offered by AI technologies and supporting innovation is of great importance for both our country's and the global economy's sustainable growth.
How can artificial intelligence contribute to the plastic industry, which is a technological sector?
Artificial intelligence can make significant contributions to the plastic industry in various ways. Faulty production is detected immediately with image processing and sensor technologies, reducing cost and time loss. Machine learning analyzes production processes to determine the most efficient parameters in terms of energy, raw materials, and processes. It analyzes sensor data to predict maintenance needs of machines, reducing downtime and failure times.
Image recognition technologies that distinguish different types of plastics increase recycling efficiency. By analyzing material data, plastic types with lower environmental impact can be developed. It can suggest new designs that enhance performance while reducing costs by examining existing designs. It optimizes processes from raw material procurement to distribution by increasing efficiency in stock management, demand forecasting, and logistics.
It analyzes the working environment to detect occupational safety risks in advance; simulates accident scenarios. Effective marketing strategies are developed by analyzing customer preferences and market trends. Artificial intelligence has the potential to make all processes in the plastic industry, from production to recycling and marketing, more efficient, sustainable, and innovative.
THE PLASTIC SECTOR'S MARKET SIZE WILL BE 1 TRILLION DOLLARS
Where will the plastic sector be in 10 years? What will the size of the sector be? Can you provide a general analysis of the sector?
When evaluating the future status of the plastic industry, current trends, technological advancements, environmental and economic factors should be considered. It is projected that the global plastic market will exceed 1 trillion dollars within the next 10 years. Turkey can increase its share as the second-largest producer in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world. The industry, which has shown an average growth of 10% over the last 10 years, will see exports and economic contributions increase further.
Recycling and sustainability are becoming increasingly important. Technologies such as 3D printing will make it possible to produce more complex and customized products. Applications that reduce carbon footprints and emphasize recycling will provide a competitive advantage.
Environmental regulations and increasing consumer awareness will necessitate new business models that reduce single-use plastics. To succeed in global competition, investments in technology and quality will become critical.
As the industry approaches a volume of 1 trillion dollars with the 2030s, the concepts of "responsible production," "innovative products," and "flexibility" will become prominent. While efficiency increases with technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, investments in environmental and social responsibility will be the most important factors determining sustainability in the industry.
Translated by Artificial Intelligence
