Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş Attended the International Media Summit in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said, “Media should be a tool that sustains and glorifies human values” having stated that they have wanted to integrate with the culture and information produced and disseminated by media, not with false and destructive effects of it in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).”
Speaking at the opening, Minister Göktaş emphasized that the Summit, where AI and media issues would be discussed, would surely play an important role in shaping the road maps of the future, and added to her words that she believed that it would be very meaningful to address AI and media issues together.
Minister Göktaş attended the "International Media Summit in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" held in a hotel in Ankara organised by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in cooperation with the Artificial Intelligence Policies Association (AIPA).
Reminding that a rapid transformation has begun with the integration of AI into many areas, Minister Göktaş stated that the benefits of artificial intelligence are important.
Noting that AI harbours in itself a great potential in supporting development, increasing efficiency and solving ongoing challenges, Minister Göktaş said, "While this transformation facilitates access to information and all communication processes, it also brings about reliability and ethical problems. In this sense, we find it valuable to handle the risks that we may face are addressed in all their dimensions. It is of great importance that AI technologies are developed in a transparent, fair and accessible way to eliminate these risks."
Wrong algorithms may cause deepening of the learning inequalities
Minister Göktaş stated that they have the opportunity to evaluate the opportunities that AI offers to women in many fields and the obstacles they have had to face, at the "Women and Justice Summit" organized under the theme entitled as "AI and Women" in cooperation with KADEM.
Minister Göktaş said, "One of the biggest risks of AI systems is that prejudices may reflect themselves in the data sets of such systems and as a result of this, discrimination against women can increase. Along with such a risk, the other risk is that while AI-supported education platforms for children offer them personalized learning opportunities, wrong algorithms may cause deepening of the learning inequalities.”
Pointing out that whilst inadequate supervision of online content might negatively affect the psychological development of children, also the AI systems that are not suitable for the ethical design might put privacy at risk, Minister Göktaş touched on the issue that while AI-based digital tools support the communication among family members, misuse of such tools on the other hand, might weaken the family ties and cause communication problems among them.
Noting that excessive digitalization might lead to emotional disconnection between children and parents, Minister Göktaş said: “We believe that ethical and inclusive approaches should be adopted in the design and use processes of AI systems, focusing on the needs of all age groups, children, women, the elderly and families. Otherwise, it is an inevitable fact that these technologies will become a tool that deepens inequalities and vulnerabilities in society rather than providing opportunities. In this sense, media representatives and employees have a very important responsibility. "We all know very well the impact and persuasive power of the media on society."
Minister Göktaş stated that they regretfully see that women are represented in stereotypical roles in traditional and new media channels, the female body is commodified, and discrimination against women is further reinforced due to these forms of representation.
We obtained findings that normalise violence
Noting that it has been often witnessed in the digitalizing world that young people compromise their own personalities by taking on virtual and fake identities and building an artificial life for themselves, Minister Göktaş said: “Today, the effects of social media and digital risks have become a major concern for families. We also saw that the digital age changes parent-child relationships, blurring the boundaries between roles and increasing intergenerational communication problems. We have obtained findings that the way violence against women and children is presented in the news, daytime television, TV series and movies, reproduces existing violence and normalizes violence.”
Minister Göktaş stated that they met with TV series producers, media and social media representatives throughout the year to draw their attention to all these issues, conveyed their sensitivities to all parties and expressed their views on supporting broadcasts and content in framework of these sensitivities, and continued his words as follows: “We want to integrate with the information and culture that media produces and disseminates, not with the false and destructive effects produced by the media in the age of artificial intelligence. Media should be a tool that sustains and glorifies human values. When it comes to family, women, children and youth, everyone needs to approach issues with great sensitivity. Publications that will increase social awareness will also contribute to overcoming social problems. I believe that this summit we held will open new doors in the journey of AI and digital transformation.”
At the summit, Minister Göktaş was presented with the photograph under the title "Reflections from the Village School", which was processed with AI and taken in 1951.
