Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of Turkish defense company Baykar, has warned that global technology conglomerates are creating a new form of “techno-capitalist dominance” that threatens national sovereignty through artificial intelligence and digital platforms.
Speaking at the Türkiye Artificial Intelligence Summit, Bayraktar argued that major tech firms are shaping user behavior through algorithm-driven systems designed to maximize screen engagement. He claimed these platforms exploit psychological triggers such as anger, fear, and reward mechanisms to keep users continuously online.
He further stated that modern threats to national independence are no longer limited to traditional military forces but now extend to data infrastructure, digital ecosystems, and consumer devices. According to him, centralized data systems controlled by global tech giants pose risks to privacy and sovereignty.
Bayraktar urged countries to shift toward open-source and transparent AI ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of independent technological infrastructure. He called for distributed learning systems where data remains within national boundaries while AI models operate across decentralized networks.
He also highlighted alternative digital platforms developed in Türkiye, including social media systems and locally trained AI models aimed at reducing dependence on foreign technology ecosystems and improving data security.
In his remarks, Bayraktar stressed that future technological power should focus not only on computational scale but also on human-centered design and cognitive understanding, arguing that sustainable innovation depends on aligning AI development with human intelligence rather than raw processing power.
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