The fourth International Strategic Communication Forum (Stratcom Summit'24), organised by the Directorate of Communications under the theme "AI in Communication: Trends, Traps, and Transition," has kicked off in Istanbul.
The summit, taking place at a hotel in Istanbul, began with the recitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's message.
The event also featured speeches from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun.
The opening ceremony was attended by Anadolu Agency (AA) Chairman of the Board and Director General Serdar Karagöz, AA Deputy Director General Yusuf Özhan, and AA Publications and Productions Coordinator Oğuz Karakaş, as well as academics, experts, university students, and many other local and international guests.
The summit to discuss AI
The Stratcom Summit'24, Türkiye's largest communication summit, will bring together the leading figures of international communication to deliberate on the transformations in the field of communication through artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the opportunities and challenges offered by the latest technologies.
The Summit will focus on the transformative impact of AI in communication and will cover a wide range of current issues such as public communication, new communication strategies, journalism, digital media and diplomacy, combating disinformation and crisis management, digital ethics, and cyber security.
The Stratcom Summit'24 will host 64 speakers from 30 countries, including both national and international experts from the public and private sectors, academia, media, civil society, and think tanks. The summit will feature eight panels, four talks, and six one-on-one sessions, welcoming more than 3,000 guests from both Türkiye and abroad.
The summit's opening day will feature panels on “AI in National Strategy: Governmental Perspectives on Digital Transformation and Strategic Communication”, “Digital Transparency vs. Data Security: Finding the Balance”, ”AI in International Strategic Communication: Collaboration and Regulation” and “Combatting Disinformation with AI: Tools and Strategies for Public Institutions.”
Furthermore, three one-on-one sessions will be held on the first day of the summit. Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security, Akif Çağatay Kılıç, will discuss "Turkish Government's National Security Perspective in the AI Era"; Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmet Hajiyev, will discuss "AI and Strategic Development: A Vision for Azerbaijan's Future"; and Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy of Palestine, Dr Abdul Razzaq Al-Natsheh, will talk about "Driving Digital Transformation: Insights from Palestine's Telecommunications Vision."
On the second day, experts will share their views on ''AI in Crisis Communication: Real-Time Strategies for Public Safety,'' ''AI-Driven Cybersecurity in Communication: Protecting Integrity and Trust,'' ''AI’s Impact on Journalism: Balancing Accuracy, Objectivity, and the Threat of Deepfakes,'' and ''Ethics in AI-Enabled Communication: Navigating Transparency and Accountability.''
Speeches and one-on-one sessions on ''Deterrence and Defence in a Time of Information Threats: A Conversation,'' ''The Role of AI in Transforming Neurotechnology,'' ''A New Frontier in Artistic Technology,'' ''AI in Diplomacy: Türkiye’s Strategy for a Tech-Driven Global Future,'' ''Global Strategies for Effective Government Communication,'' ''Innovation for Modernisation: Albania's State Digital Revolution,'' and ''The Role of Digital Diplomacy in the Peace Process'' will explore how AI is shaping foreign policy and communication activities for states and international organisations.
The Presidency's Directorate of Communications, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Anadolu Agency (AA), Press Advertisement Agency, Presidency of Defence Industries, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), İstanbul Technical University (ITU), and Yıldız Technical University will all have booths at the event area. Participants will also be offered AI experience areas designed specifically for the event.
