Greece has announced the formation of an AI advisory committee led by Constantinos Daskalakis, a professor of computer science at MIT. The committee will shape a national strategy for integrating AI in Greece, considering its impact on the economy and society.
Greece is taking a bold step towards embracing artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of its development and innovation.
The country’s prime minister, Kryiakos Mitsotakis, has unveiled an AI advisory committee composed of some of Greece’s foremost experts in technology, ethics, and science.
The committee will advise the government on integrating AI in various sectors and domains while ensuring ethical and legal standards are met. A pressing reality of the present
Mitsotakis made the announcement on October 19th, stressing the urgency and importance of this initiative. He said:
“AI is advancing at an exponential pace, creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges for humanity. This is not a matter of the future; it is the pressing reality of the present. We need to be prepared and proactive, not reactive and passive.”
The prime minister added that the AI advisory committee will operate under his direct supervision, reflecting the high priority and strategic significance of this endeavor.
Meet the experts behind the AI advisory committee
The leader of the AI advisory committee is Constantinos Daskalakis, a distinguished professor of computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Daskalakis is a renowned researcher in the fields of computational complexity, game theory, and machine learning. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions, including the Nevanlinna Prize, the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize, and the ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award.
Daskalakis is joined by a diverse team of experts from various relevant fields, including technology, ethics, law, and science. The team includes prominent Greek researchers and scientists, both from within Greece and from the diaspora abroad.
Some of the notable members are:
- George Alogoskoufis, professor of economics at Tufts University
- Panos Achlioptas, professor of computer science at Stanford University
- Maria Florina Balcan, professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University
- Eleni Drinea, professor of computer science at ETH Zurich
- Dimitris Papadimitriou, professor of law at the University of Athens
- Sophia Ananiadou, professor of computer science at the University of Manchester
- George Paliouras, director of research at NCSR Demokritos
How the committee will shape Greece’s AI future
The main role of the AI advisory committee is to shape a comprehensive and holistic national strategy for the integration of AI in Greece. The strategy will cover various aspects and dimensions of AI technology and its impact on the economy and society.
Some of the key objectives are:
- To enhance productivity, competitiveness, and innovation across various sectors and domains
- To foster education, research, and development in AI and related fields
- To strengthen local infrastructure, capabilities, and ecosystems for AI deployment and adoption
- To ensure ethical, legal, and social standards are respected and safeguarded
- To promote public awareness, engagement, and participation in AI-related matters
Daskalakis explained that the committee will formulate policy recommendations and guidelines for the government to implement the strategy.
He said:
“Our goal is to provide a roadmap for Greece to harness the potential of AI technology for its development and prosperity. We will also address AI’s challenges and risks for human rights, democracy, and social justice. We will work closely with the government, academia, industry, civil society, and international partners to achieve this vision.”
Greece’s alignment with EU’s AI vision and values
Greece’s initiative comes from a broader European effort to regulate and coordinate AI activities across the continent.
Greece is one of the 27 member states of the European Union that will be subject to the EU AI Act, a proposed legislation that aims to establish a common framework for trustworthy AI in Europe.
The EU AI Act sets out rules and requirements for high-risk AI systems, such as those used in health care, law enforcement, or transportation.
Moreover, recent reports from the EU suggest that more stringent regulations are being considered, especially for large AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Meta’s Ll.
These models can generate large amounts of text or data based on natural language inputs. However, they also pose challenges for data protection, quality assurance, and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, Greece’s AI advisory committee will have to take into account these developments and align its strategy with the EU’s vision and values.
