AI and Creativity Take Center Stage at Science Café
Sabancı University faculty members came together with university and high school students in Ankara במסגרת the “Science Café” events organized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
The event aimed to foster scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and a spirit of exploration among young participants. Discussions focused on the relationship between artificial intelligence, algorithms, and human creativity, offering a multidisciplinary perspective.
Participants included Sabancı University President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici, Faculty Member Dr. İnanç Arın from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Selçuk Artut from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
“Artificial Intelligence Is a Multidisciplinary Transformation”
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Leblebici emphasized the historical development and future trajectory of AI:
“Although artificial intelligence may seem like a relatively new field, its foundations date back 50–60 years. Over the past 10–15 years, the rapid increase in data generation and digitalization has reignited its development. Today, AI has evolved into a multidisciplinary domain with social, economic, and ethical dimensions.”
Leblebici also highlighted the growing importance of energy consumption in AI systems, noting that large-scale data centers raise critical sustainability concerns.
“The Role of Humans Is Becoming Even More Critical”
Dr. İnanç Arın drew attention to the rapid pace of AI development and its transformative impact:
“The fact that AI applications reached 1 million users in just 5 days clearly demonstrates the scale and speed of this transformation.”
He stressed that human involvement remains essential:
“On the contrary, the role of humans is becoming even more critical. What matters is how we interpret, validate, and transform AI outputs into real value.”
AI Is Also Transforming the Perception of Art
Prof. Dr. Selçuk Artut examined the relationship between AI and creativity from an artistic perspective:
“Artificial intelligence can generate outputs based on large datasets, but whether these outputs can be considered ‘creative’ remains an open question. AI is not only changing how we create art but also how we perceive it.”
Artut further noted:
“Rather than seeing AI as a creative ‘subject,’ it is more accurate to view it as a powerful ‘mirror’ that reflects and amplifies human creativity.”
Science Café: Bridging Academia and Society
“Science Café,” one of the key initiatives of the Science Communication Office established by YÖK, stands out as a platform that brings academics and the public together.
By enabling participants to directly engage with experts, the initiative aims to strengthen public trust in science and promote scientific thinking.
Rethinking Knowledge in the Age of AI
The “Science Café” event hosted by Sabancı University highlighted that artificial intelligence is not only a technological advancement but also a profound social and cultural transformation.
In this evolving landscape, critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and human creativity are emerging as key drivers of future innovation.
