Ahmet KÜLAHÇI / BERLIN
Created Date: November 28, 2024 04:00
Stating that the decision of automotive manufacturers, especially Volkswagen, to stop production in Germany one by one is an important warning, Şahin Albayrak, Professor of Computer Science at Berlin Technical University, said: “While Tesla and China are advancing rapidly, Germany is in diesel sleep. The message is clear: without software, AI and digital mobility, it’s game over. “Now is the time to act or lose,” he said.
Important statements about the automotive crisis in the country came from Şahin Albayrak, Professor of Computer Science at Berlin Technical University, who is one of the most influential names in the field of artificial intelligence in Germany and is also described as the ‘artificial intelligence priest’ in the country. Prof. is also known as the owner of the “Belntelli” project, which will lead Germany to a breakthrough in autonomous public transportation. Albayrak accused the country’s administrators of neglecting new technologies. Prof. In his evaluation to Hürriyet, Albayrak called for radical change in the automotive industry in the country.
‘GERMANY IS IN DIESEL SLEEP’
in germany VolkswagenAutomotive giants such as Daimler Benz-Mercedes and Ford closed their production facilities; Prof. stated that the fact that some spare parts manufacturers, such as Bosch, downsized their operations in Europe and laid off workers should be considered as a ‘wake-up call’. Albayrak said, “Those who continue to sleep will be left behind. While Tesla and China are advancing rapidly, Germany is in a diesel slumber. The message is clear: without software, AI and digital mobility, it’s game over. “Now is the time to act or lose,” he said.
Emphasizing that it would be useful to look at the causes of the crisis instead of blaming climate targets or subsidy strategies for the developments, Albayrak said: “The causes of the crisis lie deeper. Germany’s automotive industry has significantly underestimated the dynamics in recent years. While Chinese manufacturers such as Tesla and BYD have advanced in the field of electromobility and digital innovation, many German companies have acted like inert tankers. Instead of thinking about the future, they stuck to diesel, gasoline and mechanical perfection. That’s why the decisive transformation towards digital software-driven mobility could not take place.”
THE AGE OF SOFTWARE, NOT ENGINEERING
Prof. Albayrak said that not only industrial organizations but also politicians have failed in the transformation to digital software-oriented mobility. “Politicians were very timid about this issue, they moved very slowly. They underestimated the strategic importance of key technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). He also emphasized that “Germany has largely lost contact in areas such as alternative propulsion systems, sensor technology and artificial intelligence.”
Prof. also pointed out that the future of the automotive industry will be decided not only by mechatronics and engineering skills but also by software. Albayrak said, “Operating systems for vehicles, artificial intelligence-controlled platforms and digital services increasingly determine who will survive in the global industry. Germany urgently needs to catch up on this, and it can. However, this requires a radical change. Companies need to be faster, more agile and bolder. As Ford is currently showing, restructuring isn’t enough. “Layoffs should not jeopardize the creative and innovative core of a company,” he said.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR GERMANY
Prof. Albayrak stated that the artificial intelligence train can still be caught and made the following suggestions:
– Politicians should create the legal and financial framework to encourage innovation.
– Tax incentives for research and development,
– Investing in charging infrastructure,
– Training initiatives for software and artificial intelligence skills should be supported.
– A clear and coordinated strategy for electromobility and digitalization is needed that not only distributes subsidies but also creates conditions for long-term growth.
The industry in Germany must put aside its arrogance and accept that mechanical excellence no longer has a future on its own. Digital innovation and bold reforms are the only way forward.
FROM TUNCELI TO BERLIN
Prof. Dr. Şahin Albayrak was born in 1958 in Turnayolu village of Tunceli’s Nazımiye district. He finished primary, secondary and high school in Tunceli. In 1979, he went to his brother who was working in Germany. In 1980, he was accepted to the Faculty of Computer and Communication Sciences at the Technical University of Berlin (TU). He completed his doctorate at the same university in 1992 and founded the “Distributed Artificial Intelligence Laboratory” in the same year and became its head.
In 2003, he served as Head of the Computer and Communications Research Department at the Technical University of Berlin. with Türkiye in 2014 Germany He was awarded the Federal Order of Merit for his contribution to the development of scientific cooperation between the countries and his support for the education of people of immigrant origin.
Albayrak is currently a Professor of Computer Science at the Technical University of Berlin, where he is also the chairman of Distributed Research. Artificial intelligence He founded the Laboratory (DAI Laboratory). On the other hand, he serves as the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for Experiential Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization (ZEKI) at TU Berlin.
Source: bigpara.hurriyet.com.tr
