Humans in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Rethinking Social Equality

Executive Summary

This report examines the effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation on Türkiye’s labor market, economic structure, and social fabric. Türkiye’s journey in this area progresses uniquely through the combination of a large and young population, an ongoing skills mismatch, a widespread informal economy, and fundamental gaps in institutional digitalization. The report argues that although AI presents a global paradigm shift, the path Türkiye will follow will be determined by its existing structural realities. The central thesis is that the failure to address fundamental weaknesses, most notably the insufficient digitalization of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) focused economy and the ongoing skills mismatch in the labor force, will lead to a significant increase in inequality.