Turkiye’s First Artificial Intelligence Engineer Graduates as Valedictorian: Ata Turhan Paves the Way for AI Dominance in the World

In 2019, the Artificial Intelligence Engineering Department, which was opened by TOBB University of Economics and Technology for the first time in Türkiye, celebrated its first graduation. At the graduation ceremony held on the campus of TOBB ETU, Ata Turhan graduated as Türkiye’s first artificial intelligence engineer, ranking first in both the department and the university.

Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing field for both Türkiye and the world, challenging the human imagination in the world of the future. This new technology is considered by experts to be the foundation of developments that will change the fate of the future, even the present, and people’s lifestyles like never before. Türkiye has also opened an important door in this new and indispensable field with its first undergraduate graduate. Ata Turhan, who graduated from TOBB ETU Artificial Intelligence Engineering program as the top student of the university, pointed out that it was very meaningful that this achievement came on the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Republic.

– Dropped out of medical school and decided to study artificial intelligence

Explaining that he decided to drop out of the Faculty of Medicine and study artificial intelligence engineering, Ata Turhan cited the reason for this choice as the possibility of more efficient work in all fields, including healthcare, using artificial intelligence technology. Turhan stated that the education he received at TOBB ETU was quite challenging, and emphasized that this challenging process gave him many skills.

Ata Turhan, who stated that he is Türkiye’s first undergraduate graduate in the field of artificial intelligence, apart from master’s and doctoral students, said the following: “In addition to computer engineering courses, I also took courses from the departments of industrial engineering, electrical-electronics engineering, economics, business administration and psychology. While I gained knowledge directly related to our field in artificial intelligence-oriented courses, I also had the opportunity to learn the perspective of different fields with the courses of other departments. We are rapidly preparing to develop artificial intelligence technology, the most important technology that will dominate the world. Together, we see that opportunities are being created across the country in this field. I find it very valuable to reach young people studying in this field especially at universities and support them while they are still at university.”