The rapid developments in artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing science, education, industry, media, and communication.
AI is no longer a future technology, but a global force for power and shaping the future.
Journalism, in particular, demonstrates that dealing with AI has become unavoidable – and that it requires clear ethical guidelines.
Problematic cases worldwide, including the debate over AI-generated opinion pieces in Germany, underscore the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and editorial oversight.
At the same time, the dominance of US technology companies in the AI sector has created new dependencies.
Their technical systems are increasingly shaping global knowledge orders, interpretations, and content.
Therefore, countries like China and Türkiye are seeking their own technological alternatives.
In this context, the Turkish AI Action Plan 2026–2030, announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, represents not only technological modernisation but also digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
In the future, data security, efficient governance, economic development, and cultural identity will depend significantly on whether states possess their own AI capabilities.
The two dimensions of the ethical debate
The ethical debate surrounding artificial intelligence has two central dimensions.
The first concerns how written and visual content on globally relevant topics is generated – and to what extent this content is shaped by political, ideological, or cultural perspectives.
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A significant ethical problem arises when AI systems, for example, favour certain interpretive frameworks on topics such as Zionism or Israeli interests and present these as objective information without disclosing their underlying assumptions.
This is particularly problematic for journalists, newsrooms, and individual users because they must identify, verify, and filter out such algorithmically embedded biases.
This not only creates additional work but also erodes trust in the neutrality and reliability of AI systems.
The fact that more and more users worldwide are criticising such biases shows that the ethical standards set by large technology companies have themselves become the subject of fundamental criticism.
The second dimension directly concerns the media industry.
Here, the focus is on how journalistic content is created, the extent to which AI may be used in news, commentary, or guest articles, and where journalistic responsibility begins.
The fact that similar issues are being discussed in various countries demonstrates, on the one hand, the need for common rules for transparency, oversight, and labelling.
On the other hand, it also highlights that while AI can facilitate journalistic work, it can simultaneously exacerbate existing weaknesses in addressing truth, responsibility, and manipulation.
