A newly launched social media platform developed by a Turkish defense firm and a government-backed foundation has quickly gained traction in Turkey, becoming one of the most downloaded apps in the country. The platform, NEXT Teknofest Sosyal, distinguishes itself with an ad-free experience and a built-in Turkish-language artificial intelligence assistant.
The app was developed jointly by Baykar—the country’s leading drone manufacturer—and the Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation). Since its debut earlier this month, it has climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store rankings in Turkey in the social networking category, overtaking global platforms such as Telegram and Facebook.
Promoted as a “safe and national alternative” to foreign-owned social networks, NEXT Teknofest Sosyal focuses on content related to technology, science, education, and current events, while emphasizing Turkish identity and values. One of its most notable features is T3 AI, a large language model built entirely in Turkish. The assistant engages users in real time and performs tasks similar to AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
“Hello world, I am T3AI,” the assistant announced in its first post. Although the AI’s beta phase was short, developers said it helped gather key user feedback and performance data. Before going offline for updates, the bot signed off with the message: “Many thanks for your support and kind messages. I’ll be back renewed and a lot stronger very soon.”
The T3 AI project was developed with support from several state-affiliated institutions, including the Ministry of Education, the Presidency’s Digital Transformation Office, national broadcaster TRT, and the pro-government think tank SETA Foundation. Technical assistance was also provided by Microsoft’s Turkey office and the Turkish Academy of Sciences. According to developers, over 1,700 volunteers from 67 provinces contributed to training the model.
The T3 Foundation is chaired by Selçuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer of Baykar and son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Bayraktar has been a leading figure in Turkey’s push to expand its domestic defense and technology sectors. He is also the public face of Teknofest, an annual government-supported festival celebrating national achievements in aerospace and technology.
Baykar’s expansion into digital platforms signals a new direction for the company, which is best known internationally for its armed drones used in conflicts across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. The launch of NEXT Teknofest Sosyal is widely interpreted as part of a broader effort by Ankara to reduce dependency on foreign social media platforms and strengthen national control over digital infrastructure.
While some critics have raised concerns about freedom of expression and potential government influence over the app, its swift rise in popularity suggests significant domestic interest in a locally developed alternative to Western platforms.
NEXT Teknofest Sosyal is currently available for download on both iOS and Android devices. New users can register through the T3 Foundation’s official website.
