‘Creative Design Workshop with Generative Artificial Intelligence’ was held in collaboration with Üsküdar University, IEEE Üsküdar University Student Branch Club, ArVis Teknoloji, Brainpark TTO, and Roket Akademi. In the event, which was attended by experts in their fields, it was explained how artificial intelligence is integrated into the world of art and design. Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also attended the event. Tarhan, emphasizing that technological transformation does not occur without mental transformation, said: “If you pursue the need, you will succeed.”
ArVis Teknoloji CTO Tansel Akgül, Artificial Intelligence Author Şule Güner, and Arvis Teknoloji CEO Gülhan Ertürk Akgül attended the event, which took place in Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus Emir Nebi Conference Hall, as guests.
The opening speeches of the event were delivered by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, and IEEE Student Branch President Ahmet Can Çağlar.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Technological transformation does not occur without mental transformation”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, underscoring the necessity of pursuing needs to achieve success, said: “Technological transformation does not occur without mental transformation. Mental transformation is required for social transformation and technological transformation to happen. People’s mental walls mostly create prejudices. Currently, the way for artificial intelligence is open, but I always tell young people this: if you chase money, you won’t succeed. If you pursue the need, you will succeed. You must pursue the need. What does this society need, what do people need? To pursue this need, you must have a goal. You must have goals for which you will work, get tired, and endure hardships. That’s why I am truly hopeful for young people. Young people, stop dealing with unnecessary things. The path to success is like mountaineering. It requires sweating, effort, and getting tired. Never give up, keep going.”
“The pandemic spread digitalization to the grassroots”
Tarhan, stating that digitalization became inevitable when the whole world was affected by Covid, said: “Actually, the emergence of Covid presented an opportunity dimension for the iceberg. Digital platforms were about to form a monopoly, they were in the hands of their creators. When the whole world was hit by Covid, digitalization became a necessity. Digital platforms globalized, preventing some from monopolizing. So, in my opinion, the pandemic spread digitalization to the grassroots.”
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk: “Turkey’s salvation: The growth of young minds with a passion for projects…”
Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, stating that there is no age for learning, emphasized the importance of not missing the changes and transformations in the world. Konuk said: “You will learn the opportunities that generative artificial intelligence will provide you. It’s the same for me; there is no age for learning. It is very difficult to catch up with technology. As a country, unfortunately, we missed the global changes and transformations due to our internal conflicts. The first thing we missed was the industrial revolution, but the new generation is trying to do something. We believe that Turkey’s salvation lies in young minds growing with a passion for projects and undertaking projects. Unfortunately, the generation before us always feared the word ‘project’.”
Tansel Akgül: “It turned out that the processing power of artificial intelligence is based on processing”
ArVis Teknoloji CTO Tansel Akgül gave a presentation titled “What are the usage tools of generative artificial intelligence, and how are they operated?” Akgül said: “Our work today is actually based on having fun, but while having fun, we will also learn the fundamental underlying issues. I have been doing this for about forty years. We met artificial intelligence and deep learning in 2013. With the development of hardware, it became clear that the processing power of artificial intelligence is based on processing, and we have reached the point of today's generative artificial intelligence. Ms. Yeliz loved taking photos. She had shootings in Hatay Arsuz. I asked her to write a text describing an emotional state for each photo, and we obtained artistic photos with AI outputs related to the photos. We printed these photos digitally. They are in our homes.”
Şule Güner: “A definition we call 'AI specialist' will emerge from every profession”
Artificial Intelligence Author Şule Güner gave a presentation titled “A look at generative artificial intelligence models used in digital art.” Güner said: “Engineering equals creativity. This actually seems like a very separate thing, but it’s not. I have thought from the beginning that this work is interdisciplinary. Yes, it first belongs to engineering. Back then, we were wondering how it would be, but it was clear that coding would move to another place. I think a definition we call ‘AI specialist’ will emerge from every profession. Like a doctor AI specialist, a lawyer AI specialist. Not only engineers but also economists and administrative scientists should be involved. There need to be people who produce projects, teams that produce projects need to be formed, and visionary people who lead them, and at the top, the most visionary leaders.”
“Art is moving according to the digital world”
Güner, emphasizing that mathematics and creativity are very important and that one cannot exist without the other, said: “Today’s workshop highlights creativity. By learning things from there, you can transfer your brain to other creative works. This is also neurological. There is a math to writing prompts. Mathematics and creativity, one cannot exist without the other. No offense, but art is moving according to the digital world. The mathematics of life is now very different. We expect the previous generation to find areas for you to work in the business world.”
Gülhan Ertürk Akgül: “If you look at life from the good side, you can produce good things”
Arvis Teknoloji CEO Gülhan Ertürk Akgül gave a presentation titled “How are the outputs obtained with generative artificial intelligence used?” Akgül, stating that society will benefit more when good things are produced, said: “We have always looked at generative artificial intelligence from the good side because if you look at life from the good side, you can produce good things. When you produce good things, you become more beneficial to society. There will also be bad users, but this exists in every area of our lives. Bad people, bad events, bad perspectives, and bad situations certainly exist, but for young people, what you need to do is to always embrace the good side of next-generation technologies and use them in ways that benefit life. You use artificial intelligence in many different areas: art, design, music, fashion. For example, the film industry will not disappear, but there will be tools that will increase production capacity. We must be beneficial to society. Ethical issues are important. Because we don't know who is to blame for a tool that works with artificial intelligence. For this reason, law is also developing.”
After the presentations concluded, certificates were given to the participants and a group photo was taken.
A workshop was held
Later, a workshop was held at the highly popular event. In the workshop, prompts were turned into visual outputs and organized for the competition.
As a result of the competition, the winner was decided by voting.
The event concluded after a gift was presented to the winner.
News: Ebranur Özdemir
Photography: Mukadder Güneş