Özyeğin University’s OzU AI Platform brought academia and business together to examine governance, ethics, people and collaboration in organisational AI adoption.
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Looking beyond the individual AI tool
OzU AI Platform held its third gathering of 2026 on 12 October under the theme “AI as an Ecosystem”. The initiative, established by Özyeğin University, brought academic and business representatives together to discuss how artificial intelligence affects decision-making, working practices, leadership and partnerships.
The programme focused on governance and ethics, data and business operations, and organisational transformation. Rather than asking only where a tool could be used, participants considered how AI could be integrated across a whole institution and how people should be prepared for the changes involved.
Ethics and accountability belong in the strategy
In his opening remarks, Özyeğin University Rector Professor Barış Tan said the AI agenda had changed rapidly. Institutions now need to consider trust, data, accountability and the principles governing deployment alongside technology selection.
Tan emphasised that successful transformation depends on the purpose for which AI is used, how it is managed inside an organisation and how employees are included. He described the platform as a setting where experience from different sectors can inform shared questions and where knowledge can be returned to the wider ecosystem.
Governance rests on people, processes and guidance
Dr Cansu Canca, Director of Responsible AI Practice at Northeastern University’s Institute for Experiential AI, discussed institutional responsibility with AIxEd founder Hamit Hamutçu. She argued that governance is a prerequisite for trustworthy and productive AI use, regardless of an organisation’s existing maturity.
Canca outlined three foundations: trained people with clear roles and decision paths; a standard process covering impact assessment, ethics by design, technical auditing and monitoring; and practical guidance that turns principles into tools, instructions and examples. Together, these elements address both organisational responsibility and the way particular systems are developed or purchased.
From automation to organisational change
Ericsson’s Alper Benli discussed how AI is changing operations, decisions and working models beyond conventional automation. In a conversation with Özyeğin University’s Dr İsmail Arı, he explored the growing concept of a digital workforce alongside AI agents and the importance of leadership in that transition.
A further panel considered experiences across sectors, including the need to identify suitable business problems and turn smaller applications into measurable value across an organisation. The discussion connected technical work with culture, employee participation and strategic direction.
Continuing the exchange between academia and industry
Founded in 2025, OzU AI Platform says its ecosystem includes 30 institutions, including five universities, across nine sectors. It has brought together more than 3,000 participants through 23 events. Research series, roundtables, strategy meetings and training are planned to continue, alongside a planned AI week in December.
The initiative aims to maintain a shared space for academic expertise and practical business experience, recognising that AI transformation extends beyond any single discipline or organisation.
