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A humanoid robot named CANIKMAN has officially taken part in a municipal council meeting in Turkey, marking what officials describe as the country’s first “population-registered” humanoid robot participating in local government proceedings.
The robot appeared during the May opening session of the Canik Municipal Council in the city of Samsun on May 5. According to local officials, CANIKMAN followed discussions, interacted with participants, and responded to questions from council members during the sessio, as reported by Türkiye Today.
Mayor ?brahim Sand?kç? described the appearance as part of the municipality’s broader push toward science and technology initiatives. Images from the meeting showed the humanoid robot standing in front of council members, walking through the chamber, and sitting alongside officials during voting procedures.
The council session itself focused on district infrastructure projects, investment plans, and education programs. Officials also announced a new agreement aimed at expanding fiber internet access to around 20,000 households in the municipality.
Beyond ceremonial appearances, CANIKMAN is already being used in educational programs throughout the district. The robot reportedly participates in science and technology workshops for children and students at the Canik Özdemir Bayraktar Discovery Campus, where free STEM-focused training is offered.
Municipal officials say the goal is to encourage younger generations to engage more closely with robotics, engineering, and emerging technologies. The robot’s public role appears to be both educational and symbolic, reflecting Turkey’s increasing investment in domestic technology development.
Turkey has expanded efforts in robotics, aerospace, defense systems, and artificial intelligence over the past several years. The country has also supported local robotics manufacturing, including work by Konya-based AKINROBOTICS, which launched a humanoid robot production facility in 2017 focused on robots for sectors including healthcare, hospitality, and education.
The meeting also took place against the backdrop of Turkey’s broader technology and defense ambitions. Turkish officials recently stated that the country’s defense and aerospace exports reached $10.5 billion across 185 countries over the past year.
While CANIKMAN’s appearance was largely symbolic, it reflects a growing trend of governments and institutions using humanoid robots not just for industrial or research purposes, but also for education, public engagement, and demonstrations of technological capability.
The idea of a humanoid robot quietly attending a council meeting may still sound unusual, but events like this are becoming increasingly common as robotics systems move into more public-facing roles.
