Influencer lack of culture: From press conference to casino

There is now a familiar type in the front rows of press conferences: the influencer. They are neither quite members of the press, nor do they carry the weight of a celebrity. This state of being stuck in the middle, which could be described as "waiter-sized," is also reflected in their behavior. They lack the discipline of the press and are far from the dignity of a celebrity. The result: a crowd that rudely jumps to the front rows, does not consider that those behind them might need to film, and believes everyone is there just to watch them.

The Price of Lack of Culture: Brainless Zombie Crowds

Behind this behavior lies a broader decay. Let us recall the "food fondling" craze that has become widespread on social media. Phenomena who slap dough, squeeze meat, or play with mixers... It is not just food; it is an attitude that involves stroking steering wheels while reviewing cars and imbuing every object with an "erotic connotation." The mechanism here is very simple: to grab attention instantly by appealing to the primitive brain. This method used for the sake of views might work in the short term, but a different price is paid in the long term. Because this content creates brainless, zombie crowds that do not think, do not question, and are dragged along by momentary pleasures.

The Casino Metaphor

The relationship between phenomena and views and likes is similar to a gambler entering a casino. At the first coin, the lights flash, music plays, and a small reward comes. The feeling of "So I can do it" is born. Then, to experience the same excitement again, one must take bigger risks. Likes and follows are these small rewards. They look attractive at first, but the rule of the game is clear: the house always wins in the end. The phenomenon's body and soul are like chips left on the table, lost without them even realizing it.

Surrender of the Body

Because in this content, the body has become a part of the content itself. To attract focus, it must be constantly reshaped, constantly giving more. The body is no longer subject to its own will, but to the expectations of third parties. Moreover, you cannot say, "They can take over my body, but never my soul." After a while, this content becomes the reason for the phenomenon's existence. What remains is a soulless, uncultured repetition.

Conclusion: Decay

There is a direct link between the rudeness at press conferences and the food fondling on social media. Both are different manifestations of a lack of culture. There is neither the seriousness of journalism left, nor the productivity of art. All that remains is a decay that is exhausted, has no reason for existence other than marketing itself, and eventually has turned even its own existence into content.

Note: Aldous Huxley says, "The intellectual is one who has found something more interesting than sex." My advice to influencers is this: If you really want a proper audience, take this quote into account.

A 95% FIASCO IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE REALITY MIT WARNED ABOUT

The new report from MIT's NANDA initiative has created a cold shower effect for the business world. The study, which involved a survey of 350 employees, interviews with 150 leaders, and an examination of 300 public AI projects, reveals that AI pilots have failed in 95% of companies. Moreover, the problem is neither the quality of the models nor regulation; the real issue is the lack of learning and integration within institutions.

Anatomy of Failure

Artificial intelligence is being rapidly adopted in individual use thanks to its flexibility. However, at the corporate scale, that same flexibility turns into a handicap. "General-purpose" tools that cannot adapt to work processes fail to contribute to P&L tables. Although most managers blame external factors, MIT data suggests the real problem is the institutions' own structural inadequacies.

In fact, this finding confirms a point I emphasized in an article I wrote about a week or two ago: the use of artificial intelligence does not gain meaning by "everyone pressing the same button," but through the right context and strategy. As I stated in that article, "a technology with an unclear purpose is useless, no matter how powerful it is."

Misuse of Resources

One of the most striking findings is the budget allocation. Companies invest more than half of their AI spending on sales and marketing tools. Yet, the highest return on investment is seen in back-office automation: reducing outsourcing, cutting agency expenses, and simplifying operations. In other words, while companies desire to shine in the spotlight, they neglect the fundamental processes that will ensure efficiency.

Who is Successful?

Interestingly, the brightest success stories come from young entrepreneurs. Founders as young as 19–20 can reach million-dollar revenues from scratch by focusing on a single "pain point" and forming the right partnerships. Corporate giants, on the other hand, mostly fall into the trap of "building everything themselves." Yet, according to the MIT report, while solutions purchased from outside and deeply integrated into business processes achieve success at a rate of 67%, two-thirds of projects built from scratch internally fail.

The Human Factor

Artificial intelligence integration is not just a matter of technology. In institutions where middle managers are not empowered and employees are forced to use "shadow AI," a culture of change does not form. Workforce transformation is also noteworthy: instead of mass layoffs, companies are not refilling vacant support and administrative positions. This creates an invisible but permanent contraction in the workforce.

What Are We Learning?

MIT's message is clear: those who leave the artificial intelligence revolution solely to technology will lose. What makes the real difference is adaptation to processes and culture. Instead of "dazzling launches," companies should invest in areas that are invisible but reduce costs. A critical addition must be made here: rather than asking artificial intelligence, institutions that shape artificial intelligence projects with the right consulting structures and planning processes have a much higher success rate. Because technology is not a savior on its own; what will make it meaningful is human-specific strategy and vision.

Algorithmic Myopia

Another reason for failure is that IT professionals still think with an algorithmic, i.e., classic programmer mindset. However, artificial intelligence is not like that; it has a structure that is more scattered and requires a broader perspective. Decision trees and rigid algorithms do not work here. The main concentration should be on security. When we connected our call center system to artificial intelligence in one of our companies, we clearly experienced that what needed to be controlled was not the workflows, but security.

THE ONLY FORMULA FOR TURKEY'S 11% GROWTH FIGURE: INVESTMENT IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The World Trade Organization's 2025 World Trade Report says that artificial intelligence could contribute 12–13% to global GDP by 2040. For middle-income countries, the growth expectation is 11%. Turkey's growth rate last year was 3.2%. We are stuck in what is classically termed the "middle-income trap." That is, even though our per capita income seems to be increasing, the gap between us and developed countries is not closing; on the contrary, it is widening.

The new doping substance of trade

According to the World Trade Organization report, artificial intelligence could increase trade in goods and services by up to 40%. This increase is like an oxygen tank for countries in a global economy marked by geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities. Rich countries will not be late in using this tank. The real issue is whether middle-income economies will be left breathless.

The abyss is not destiny

There is a clear picture in the projections: while high-income countries can gain 14%, middle-income countries remain at 11%, and low-income countries are stuck at 8%. However, if low-income countries invest in infrastructure, they can increase this rate up to 15%. The abyss can be closed. The question for Turkey is: which side will we fall on?

Thin ice on the labor front

Artificial intelligence has already begun to transform the workforce. The World Trade Organization predicts that the wage gap between high-skilled and low-skilled jobs will narrow by 3–4%. This effect, which appears to be an equalizer on the surface, actually means the disappearance of many professions. Many sectors, from call centers to translation, will melt away. Without education and reskilling, Turkey's workforce could be swept away in this transformation.

Risks and opportunities specific to Turkey

Turkey's biggest risk is getting stuck in the middle-income trap. The economy grew by only 3.2% last year; this rate is weak when compared to the growth potentials of high-income countries. A model that idles with low value-added production and dependence on domestic demand without productivity growth is not sustainable. As long as the structure of exports does not change, competition in foreign markets will worsen, pressure from the current account deficit will increase, and financing costs will rise.

The opportunity lies in artificial intelligence. Turkey can increase productivity with AI-based solutions in sectors such as health, logistics, and agriculture; it can be included in the value chain in exports from a higher position. Strategic investments in areas such as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and energy efficiency create not short-term gains, but sustainable competitive advantages. If we reform education to focus on coding, artificial intelligence literacy, and critical thinking, our young population will be the winner, not the loser, of this transformation.

Our only way is artificial intelligence

The options for Turkey are limited. Either we will stay in the middle-income trap and watch the 11% target from afar, or we will accelerate artificial intelligence investments and get out of this trap. We must renew the education system with a focus on coding and critical thinking, regulate data policies to protect fair competition, and strengthen digital infrastructure through public-private sector cooperation.

Artificial intelligence is not just a technology; it is the only way to redraw Turkey's growth route. If this path is postponed, the walls of the trap will become even thicker.