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October 2, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations — In the international seminar organized with the contributions of the GTU Sustainability Office and the GTU Science Communication Office, a diverse audience ranging from high school students to senior researchers explored the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on science, healthcare, and ethics. — Assoc. Prof. Islem Rekik, a faculty member at Imperial College London, discussed the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence at GTU, from neuroscience and education to groundbreaking innovations and ethical boundaries.
An international seminar titled “Artificial Intelligence: The Good, the Bad, and the Game-Changing Power” was held on September 30 at the Gebze Technical University (GTU) Congress and Cultural Center with the contributions of the GTU Sustainability Office and the GTU Science Communication Office.
The program began with opening remarks by Prof. Yusuf Sinan Akgül, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and was attended by GTU Vice-Rector Prof. Elif Damla Arısan, institute and faculty administrators, numerous academics, university students, and 50 guest students from Pendik Teknopark İstanbul Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School.
A Bridge Between Generations of Scientists and a Vision for Artificial Intelligence Shaped in line with GTU’s priority of expanding the use of artificial intelligence technologies across all segments of society and fostering early awareness among younger generations, the seminar brought together a diverse audience in the same hall, ranging from high school students to senior scientists with decades of research experience.
The Convergence of Human and Machine Intelligence The invited speaker, Assoc. Prof. Islem Rekik, a faculty member in the Department of Computer Engineering at Imperial College London and Director of the BASIRA Lab, provided a detailed overview of the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence in healthcare, education, creativity, media, and personal privacy.
Stating that a new era in which human and machine intelligence work collaboratively has begun, Professor Rekik noted that artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the way we work, think, innovate, and approach problem-solving. Referring to the 2024 Nobel Prizes awarded for foundational work in artificial intelligence theory, Rekik noted that generative artificial intelligence models and algorithms have now reached a level at which they can generate their own instructions, interact with one another, and solve longstanding problems in mathematics and the fundamental sciences.
Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Neuroscience-Focused Artificial Intelligence Drawing on examples from her own research, Rekik discussed the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and stated that the BASIRA Lab, which she directs, conducts research focused on brain mapping and neuroscience. Explaining that machine learning algorithms can analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to map connectivity networks between brain regions, Rekik said these methods are producing groundbreaking results in monitoring neurodevelopmental processes, identifying complex patterns, and developing personalized clinical treatments.
In addition to the technological advances brought by artificial intelligence, the seminar also addressed ethical boundaries, data privacy, and human-centered oversight mechanisms. The event concluded after questions from participants were answered. |
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