The session titled “Artificial Intelligence and Hypermedia with Philosophical and Ethical Dimensions on Online Platforms” organized within the scope of the 2nd International Artificial Intelligence and Hypermedia Symposium addressed the effects of artificial intelligence technologies on the concepts of knowledge production, ethical responsibility and digital reality from a multi-layered perspective. The session was moderated by Asst. Prof. Özgür Başyİğit, Res. Asst. Ali Şahin and Baran Turan between 10:00 and 12:20.

News: Baran Turan

The papers positioned at the intersection of philosophy, media art, ethics and cognitive sciences revealed the necessity of looking at technology not only from a functional but also an ontological and value-based approach.
The New Regime of Knowledge: The Epistemological Power of Algorithms

In his opening presentation, Asst. Prof. Dr. Aytekin Çelik questioned how algorithms transform classical theories of knowledge. Within the framework of the concept of “Artificial Episteme”, he discussed on a philosophical level how the shift of decision-making processes from the human subject to artificial systems changes the approach to knowledge. The main argument Çelik focused on was that artificial intelligence is not only a means of knowledge production, but also a power that reconstructs the definition of knowledge.

Simulation or Manipulation of Reality?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Birol Demircan discussed the ethical dimensions of deepfake technologies, which have frequently been on the agenda in the media world in recent years. Stating that digital simulation of reality creates serious problems in terms of individual rights, social trust and media ethics, Demircan particularly focused on political manipulation and violations of personal privacy. During the presentation, the question from the participants, “Is there legitimacy for deepfake in perception construction?” expanded the dimension of ethical discussions.

Reality, Ethics and Knowledge: The Philosophical Depth of Artificial Intelligence Discussed

Similarly, Res. Asst. Özgün Şahin discussed the reconstruction of reality with artificial intelligence in new media art. Şahin, who emphasized that art has become not only an aesthetic experience but also a constitutive element of reality, invited the audience to question the line between “what is real and what is not.” Examples made through works of art made the aesthetic-ethical tension visible in the session.

Mixed Reality, Cognitive Endurance and Stress Management

Yaşarcan Baskın, in his study conducted together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tamer Bayrak, focused on the issue of cognitive endurance, especially in referee decisions. The presentation, which examined how mixed reality-supported simulations affect decision-making processes under stress with experimental methods, showed that artificial intelligence paves the way for not only theoretical but also practical ethical problems. This presentation, which discussed the impact of technology on human psychology, drew attention to performance-oriented ethical dilemmas.

Screen Exposure and Attachment: Childhood in the Digital World

Gönül Kanyar, in her study investigating the effects of screen exposure in early childhood on mother-child attachment in the digital media environment, presented data particularly on emotional development processes. In this presentation, which attracted great interest from the participants, the tension between screen addiction and secure attachment brought along ethical as well as pedagogical discussions.
Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Ethical Motivation of University Students

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Bulut examined the place of generative artificial intelligence tools in education and students' motivations for using these tools within the scope of the participatory research he conducted with university students. The study revealed students' ethical consciousness levels, the functions they attributed to the tools, and their perceptions of academic honesty. The need for ethical education and the positioning of artificial intelligence within the pedagogical framework were among the prominent topics in the presentation.

The Alara X Example: Digital Communication with Artificial Presenters

In the closing of the session, Dr. Lecturer Işıl Keskin Şahan and Dr. Lecturer Ömer Vatanartıran discussed the role of artificial characters in digital communication through the example of an artificial intelligence presenter called Alara X used on YouTube. An intensive discussion was held with the participants on the function of Alara X in the content production process, the type of relationship it establishes with the audience, and whether artificial characters should be seen as an alternative to human presenters on digital platforms. This discussion brought up the question of “do artificial intelligence representations strengthen or damage digital trust?”

The Philosophy of Technology at the Boundary of Ethical Codes

The papers presented in this session showed that artificial intelligence is not only a technical revolution; it is also an epistemological, ethical, and ontological transformation. How basic concepts such as reality, knowledge, decision, attachment, and art are reshaped by artificial intelligence; constituted both the common intersection and the philosophical depth of the papers.

Throughout the discussions, questions such as how the definition of being "human" has evolved in the digital age, how trust in information will be rebuilt, and how ethical codes should be updated with technology stood out as fundamental issues that left their mark on the session.