Yunus Emre Institute organized a workshop in Tunisia as part of the “Tanışkan Project,” aimed at creating art through contemporary technologies like artificial intelligence and NFTs.

Tunisian youth with a keen interest in technology, along with trainees from the Institute and Turkish students, took part in workshops hosted by Yunus Emre Institute in Tunisia.

In a statement, Ali İhsan Çevik, PhD, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Tunisia, said, “At Yunus Emre Institute, we prioritize cultural, artistic, and scientific activities.  As part of the Tanışkan Project, embracing Yunus Emre’s philosophy of “Let’s get to know one another,’' we are hosting an artificial intelligence workshop. We remain committed to supporting projects that directly benefit our trainees.”

Cansu Yalçıner, Coordinator of the Tanışkan Project, shared details about the initiative, stating, “As part of the Tanışkan Project, we conducted workshops introducing artificial intelligence in seven different countries. We organized workshops in three distinct locations in Türkiye. The project aims to serve as a conduit, introducing artificial intelligence in alignment with Yunus Emre’s philosophy of ‘Let’s get to know one another.’ As we introduce young people to artificial intelligence, we also provide an opportunity for them to encounter diverse cultures. This approach also contributes to the promotion of the Turkish language.”

Yalçıner noted that in the workshop, they demonstrated practical ways for participants to acquaint themselves with artificial intelligence and engage in effective communication with it. She emphasized their role in fostering cultural change and empowering young individuals to stay abreast of technological advancements through the international workshops they organize.

“Our goal is to publish visuals of Yunus Emre’s poems that have been crafted using artificial intelligence”

Alper Kerpiççi, member of the project implementation team, expressed satisfaction with the interest garnered during the workshop in Tunisia, noting, “In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, the world is shifting towards a new axis. In our workshop, we elucidate the workings of artificial intelligence, which generates text from text and creates visuals based on textual input. Afterwards, we generate a visual representation for a selected poem at each Yunus Emre Institute representative office. We are currently hosting this workshop in 7 different countries. At the end of the project, our goal is to publish visuals of Yunus Emre’s poems that have been crafted using artificial intelligence.”

Nada bin Hajj Naser, a 15-year-old high school student who attended the workshop, shared her thoughts, saying, “This workshop on artificial intelligence was a very significant experience for me as it was my first encounter with this technology. During the workshop, where I had the chance to meet diverse individuals and acquire new knowledge, I gained insights into the usage of artificial intelligence and its potential benefits for the future.”

Since its establishment in 2017, the Yunus Emre Institute in Tunisia has been a hub for numerous cultural and artistic events in addition to offering Turkish language teaching programs in the country.