Gizem YARDIMCI

Gizem’s work focuses on the use of political bots—chatbots designed for political purposes—during democratic processes.

Her most recent book with Professor A.Yalcintas, Code and Freedoms: Conversations on the Political Economy of Artificial Intelligence (Kod ve Özgürlükler: Yapay Zekânın Politik Ekonomisi Üzerine Sohbotlar), forthcoming in January 2026, explores the societal and individual impacts of big data analysis conducted by companies operating in the fields of AI and the internet.

The book examines the role of states within the international data economy, as well as key challenges related to data ethics. It is a work that emerged from interactive conversations (“sohbotlar”) conducted with ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. These conversations offer a distinctive dialogical form that sheds light on the complex world of machine learning.

Her academic work has appeared in numerous journals including European Journal of Law and Technology (EJLT), Hacettepe University Journal of Social Sciences and İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları. She has written extensively about emerging technology, policy, and the manipulation of public opinion for popular outlets including İktisat ve Toplum Dergisi. 

In 2021, Gizem began studying the ways in which social media platforms and digital tools including automation, AI, and algorithms were being used to sow propaganda during major events around the globe. Gizem is the founder and program director of the SecimLab . She is also a consultant and researcher specialising in AI law, AI governance, political public policy, and emerging technology regulation. With a background in law and human rights, she helps organisations build responsible AI systems, strengthen regulatory alignment, and design governance frameworks that balance innovation with the protection of fundamental rights and democratic values. Since November 2025, Gizem has been providing consultancy as an External Advisor to the Transatlantic AI Policy Collaboration Working Group within the American Society for AI.

In 2025, Gizem was named to the Rising Stars in AI Ethics list by Women in AI Ethics, an initiative of Lighthouse3. In 2024, she was nominated by the Irish government for the Standards + Innovation Awards in the Researchers category, in recognition of her contributions to standardisation-related research. The Standards + Innovation Awards acknowledge researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs nominated by CEN and CENELEC national members across 34 European countries.

Gizem's research interests are Artificial Intelligence Law, Political Bots, Computational Politics, Electoral Technologies, Digital Human Rights, Data Protection, AI Accountability, Government Digital Policy, Responsible & Trustworthy AI.

Her PhD thesis was submitted to Maynooth University in October 2025.