Sivas, Türkiye - 2025 – In the heart of Sivas, a historic city in eastern Türkiye, a young girl once gazed in wonder at a toy robot. It was a simple gift from her father, but for three-year-old Nisa Nur Taş, it was the start of something extraordinary. As she watched its mechanical movements, she wasn’t just playing. She was imagining possibilities. That small moment planted a seed of curiosity that would later blossom into a lifelong pursuit of technology and innovation.

Now, at twenty-five, Nisa is a computer engineering graduate whose journey reflects how determination and opportunity can transform a dream into a mission to use technology for good. That mission has now carried her far beyond Sivas to South Korea, where she has earned a fully funded scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence.

Turning Curiosity Into Purpose by Discovering AI

During her undergraduate studies, Nisa’s love of robotics expanded into a fascination with artificial intelligence and its potential to revolutionize how people live and interact. She was intrigued by the idea that a system could not only compute but also learn, respond, and even empathize. At a time when AI was still emerging in Türkiye, Nisa recognized its potential and began exploring its impact on society.

She participated in university competitions and collaborative research projects, quickly earning a reputation for her innovative thinking and leadership. What motivated her was not simply building smarter systems, but the belief that technology could make daily life more inclusive and equitable. “I wanted to understand how machines could help people overcome barriers,” she recalls. “That’s when I realized AI could be a powerful tool for social good.”

Samsung Innovation Campus: A Catalyst for Growth

Nisa’s turning point came when she enrolled at the Samsung Innovation Campus in Türkiye. She first took the Coding & Programming Class and mastered the fundamentals of software development. Encouraged by the experience, she went on to the AI class, where she learned about data analysis, machine learning, and how to apply problem-solving skills to real-world challenges.

For Nisa, the program was far more than a series of lessons. It was a community of mentors and peers who believed in innovation as a force for change. The curriculum blended theory with hands-on projects, teaching her to analyze problems holistically and work collaboratively across disciplines. According to Nisa, “It gave me confidence not only in my technical skills, but also in my ability to design solutions that make life better for others.”

Nisa’s instructors encouraged creativity and ethical awareness, pushing her to think critically about how technology could serve society. That perspective became central to her philosophy: that technology should be meaningful, accessible, and designed with empathy.

FreeWayIn: Innovating for Inclusion

This philosophy came to life through Nisa’s capstone project at the Innovation Campus — FreeWayIn, a navigation app designed to help individuals with disabilities navigate urban environments more easily.

FreeWayIn maps and highlights accessible locations based on user-generated feedback, allowing people to search for routes and spaces suited to their mobility, visual, or hearing needs. What makes the app stand out is its inclusivity: rather than focusing on a single disability, it addresses a range of accessibility challenges, ensuring that everyone can move through their city with greater independence. Combining technical precision with social insight, the project became a collaborative effort between Nisa and her teammates. Through rigorous testing and community input, they refined the interface to be intuitive, adaptable, and visually clear. “We wanted it to be more than a map,” Nisa says. “We wanted it to be a companion for anyone who feels limited by their surroundings.”

FreeWayIn quickly became a symbol of using AI and data for inclusion and dignity, not just convenience. In addition to this, the experience reinforced Nisa’s belief that true innovation must always consider those often left behind.

A Vision for Ethical and Sustainable AI

Beyond her technical achievements, Samsung Innovation Campus also nurtured Nisa’s understanding of technology’s broader impact. She explored how AI could be developed ethically and sustainably, ensuring that it benefits communities rather than deepening inequalities.

She often reflects on how Samsung’s vision of accessible technology parallels her own. “Samsung’s integration of AI into everyday life — from smartphones to home appliances — demonstrates that technology doesn’t have to be complicated to be empowering,” she says. “It can make life easier, more inclusive, and more human.”

Her upcoming studies in South Korea represent more than an academic milestone. It’s also an opportunity to expand her worldview. Immersing herself in a new culture, Nisa hopes to collaborate with international peers, learn new approaches to AI ethics, and contribute to the growing dialogue about responsible innovation.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Looking toward the future, Nisa envisions artificial intelligence becoming an invisible yet indispensable part of daily life. She imagines AI helping farmers monitor crops, teachers personalize learning, and doctors reach patients in remote areas. Yet she remains mindful that progress must always be guided by empathy and accountability.

Her message to aspiring technologists is simple yet powerful: “Dream big, learn constantly, and never forget who you’re designing for. That’s how technology truly changes lives.”

From the little girl in Sivas holding a toy robot to a young scholar preparing to explore AI’s vast possibilities, Nisa Nur Taş embodies what happens when passion meets purpose. Her story reminds us that the future of technology is not only written in code. It is written in compassion.

About Samsung Innovation Campus

Samsung Innovation Campus is a global education program that helps youth build advanced IT skills and practical capabilities to unlock better opportunities. Through structured courses that cover topics like AI, big data, and IoT, as well as hands-on training and expert mentoring, participants gain the tools to thrive in the digital era.

Tailored programs are available for underrepresented groups including women and girls, and people with disabilities, to expand access to IT education. Graduates pursue various career paths including IT employment, tech-driven startups, and social impact initiatives.

To learn more, visit https://csr.samsung.com/en/program/samsung-innovation-campus.