ISTANBUL

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how information is produced, distributed, and trusted, speakers said at the International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) 2026 in Istanbul.

During the summit, the Saturday panel "Future of AI in Strategic Communication: Challenges and Opportunities" was moderated by Serdar Karagoz, Anadolu's president and CEO, and brought together officials and experts from government, the media, and academia.

Karagoz opened the panel by warning that the pace of change driven by AI is unprecedented and will reshape the global information environment.

"AI is changing everything. It is clear, and it is very fast," he said. "It changes how we create, how we share, and how we understand information."

Citing global projections, Karagoz said some World Economic Forum reports estimate that artificial intelligence could add up to $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

"That is a big change, and a very fast one," he said.

"Some people may lose their jobs, and some will find new ones. Soon, many things online will be (created) by AI," Karagoz said. "This will change trust and how information spreads for institutions, media outlets, and news agencies."

While AI can help people make better decisions and communicate more effectively, he said the technology also poses risks.

"Can we trust it? Who controls AI? And what about data security?" he asked.

Different global models

Fatih Donmez, the chair of Türkiye’s parliamentary committee on artificial intelligence, said the world currently follows three different models in governing AI.

One approach is the US model, which generally allows innovation to move ahead first, with regulation coming later, he said.

The EU, he said, takes a different path by prioritizing regulation early, even though the approach often faces criticism.

"The EU has a regulation-based model and tries to set rules in advance, as it does in many areas," Donmez said.

A third model, he added, is represented by China, where artificial intelligence operates under strong state oversight.

"China says if its data is used and its people are using the technology, the state must supervise everything, from algorithms to the way data is processed," he said.

Türkiye, he said, aims to develop its own model by drawing lessons from all three.

"We believe we can develop a Türkiye-specific approach by taking elements that suit us from these models," Donmez said. "We think regulation is necessary, but it should not suffocate innovation. We say regulation together with innovation."

A system struggling to adapt

Clara Hawking, executive director of Barcelona-based Kompass Education, argued that the challenges created by AI do not represent a collapse of global institutions but rather a failure to adapt to rapidly changing technologies.

She argued that many international systems built after World War II were designed for a world of states, borders, and slower technological change, while AI operates across borders and at unprecedented speed.

“What we are witnessing is not a breakdown of the international system,” Hawking said. “It is unmanaged transformation.”

She said governments and institutions should focus on modernizing existing structures and redefining rights in the AI era to protect human autonomy and dignity.

Concerns about corporate influence

Daniel Deme, editor of Hungary Today, said AI tools can be useful for journalism, including translation and fact-finding.

However, he warned that artificial intelligence systems are built on algorithms controlled by companies with their own interests.

“Look at what artificial intelligence is,” he urged.

The news is made up of comes from algorithms controlled by companies that may depend on the journals and mainstream media that people are trying to get away from, he explained.

“It has shareholders. It has investors. The algorithm itself, how it combines the media is also being calibrated to suit the needs of certain interests,” he said.

Asked by Karagoz whether AI could take over value-based editorial decisions in media, Deme said it should not.

"Clearly, you cannot, you cannot delegate certain value judgments onto AI. It corresponds to basic human dignity to go out and find the truth find the facts for yourself," Deme said.

"So keep AI on the lead like a guide dog, using when it's useful, but do not let technology be the one that does the job that you’re supposed to do in finding truth and finding the fact and saving your community," he said.

AI: ‘New generation of sovereignty’

Umit Onal, the Turkish cybersecurity chief, said advances in artificial intelligence have made data sovereignty a central component of national power.

"In recent years, developments in AI technologies have made data sovereignty one of the most important elements of national sovereignty," he said.

The defining source of power in the new era is no longer only economic or military strength, he said.

"Today, power is increasingly determined by who collects data, who processes it, and who interprets it,” Onal said. “This is exactly where artificial intelligence comes into play."

He described artificial intelligence as a "new generation of sovereignty."

Türkiye aims to be a leading actor in this emerging digital landscape through its Digital Türkiye vision, he added.

"AI can strengthen states," Onal said, "but we must also remember that if it is used incorrectly, it can weaken societies."

AI in a ‘technopolar’ world

Omer Ileri, deputy chair for information and communication technologies of Türkiye’s Justice and Development Party, said debates around artificial intelligence stem from its technological nature, geopolitical competition, and growing awareness of its societal impact.

He said the world is entering a "technopolar" era in which AI is not only improving productivity but also becoming a key arena of rivalry between countries.

Ileri noted that past experiences -- from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of social media -- have shown that technological advances do not always benefit society equally.

"We should be driving technology," he said. "Technology should not be driving us."