Greece is stepping up its ambitions in artificial intelligence, with a new AI "factory" named "Pharos" ("Lighthouse") set to become fully operational in the coming months, aiming to bring together under one roof the country's innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the Blue Heritage Summit in Thessaloniki, government foresight advisor Marios Dafnomilis described the initiative as a key step to help Greek research and business "go one step further" and remain competitive in the age of algorithms.
The project builds on Greece's national AI strategy, launched around 18 months ago, with roughly 40% already implemented across six flagship pillars. Alongside technological development, Dafnomilis stressed the importance of ethics, arguing that a human-centred approach is Greece's strongest advantage. "It is a very big advantage for us that AI does not have empathy. We need to maintain our human elements and leave the more procedural part to AI," he said.
Rather than replacing people, AI is expected to reshape how they work. "There will not be a replacement of humans by AI, but rather a compulsory coexistence with its tools," Dafnomilis noted, pointing to the role of data-driven systems in simplifying public administration.
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At a regional level, Central Macedonia is already seeing tangible benefits. According to regional digital governance officials, more than €10 million has been saved through the digitisation of services, while 620 digital services have processed around 500,000 requests. Efforts are also underway to upskill the workforce and strengthen links between research and industry.
Thessaloniki's growing role as a regional tech hub was also highlighted, particularly through events such as the Beyond Expo, which brings together universities, startups, businesses and policymakers. However, challenges remain, including weak research-to-market links, bureaucratic hurdles, limited bank support and ongoing brain drain.
Looking ahead, and referring to Beyond Expo, organisers hinted at a "very big event" planned for early 2027 in Thessaloniki, aimed at tackling structural barriers to innovation and further boosting the city's international profile in technology and research.
AI can speed up research and information processing, but without critical thinking, it does not make people smarter, only faster, according to AmCham education head Litsa Panagiotopoulou. She stressed that AI cannot replace human judgement, responsibility or understanding, and that education systems must prioritise deep thinking and the ability to synthesise ideas.
Societies will benefit most by training people to use AI well, with continuous learning now seen as a key skill. Meanwhile, former research foundation president Vasilis Grigoriou highlighted Greece's untapped research potential, noting growing access to investment funds, but also a lack of confidence that still holds back innovation.
