TÜBİTAK-Supported SDU Project Examines AI in Local Government

A research project led by academics at Süleyman Demirel University is examining the use of artificial intelligence in local policymaking and public service delivery. Supported by TÜBİTAK under a special call marking the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye, the project is titled “Touching the Future with Opportunities and Risks: AI Transformation in Local Policy Design and Service Delivery in Metropolitan Municipalities.”
The project is led by Prof. Dr. Murat Okcu of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Its eight-member team includes researchers from different universities.
The research covers the metropolitan municipalities of Balıkesir, Bursa, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Kocaeli, Konya and Trabzon, as well as the province of Manisa. It will examine smart-city initiatives and AI-based practices through interviews, focus groups and institutional data analysis.
Planned outputs include a data maturity model for municipalities, an AI maturity model, an implementation guide and a digital platform. The project aims to develop policy recommendations for the effective, secure and sustainable use of AI in local government, supporting data-informed decision-making, improved service delivery and more citizen-centred public services.