Greece is Humming to the Tune of AI
Today’s world moves to the beat of the change brought forth by artificial intelligence. It is one of the most promising times and pressing challenges of our time since it changes our perceptions of our economy, productivity, and society. If history is any guide, we should expect to see exponential growth in its use in the job market, our interactions with the government, and all other facets of our lives. All governments around the world realize the importance of adapting to and embracing the substantial changes brought about by artificial intelligence. Greece is no exception, and Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis recently made an important decision to organize a group of experts that will play a key role in preparing the country for the dramatic changes that lie ahead. We are facing a new reality that requires active steps to fuel the ongoing progress and development of our country.
Collaborating with Greek AI researchers at USC and Wharton, Greece developed the “Eva” AI application during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly improving the identification of high-risk asymptomatic travelers. Eva helped Greece safely reopen its borders to over 80,000 tourists a day. The results showed that Eva was 2 times more efficient than the conventional random testing of travelers. Greece boasts a strong AI talent pool, contributing 11% of AI talent in Europe, placing the country as the 7th largest source of AI researchers on the continent, according to research from MacroPolo.
I’ve been hearing for months that jobs will be lost because of AI. However, the reality is very different. Many factors lead to job loss, but artificial intelligence is not one of them. The World Economic Forum expects that more than 20% of companies that use AI will hire more people instead of firing them since they will need people with specialized skills. Inevitably, the use of robots will replace humans in dangerous and automated activities, but artificial intelligence can help us develop the skills we need to adapt to the new work landscape.
Another aspect to explore is geopolitics. The struggle for dominance in this particular technology intensifies geopolitical confrontations, as countries seek to leverage it for economic gain, technological superiority, and influence. Today, Taiwan is the dominant country in the production of computers used for artificial intelligence applications, giving it significant power and influence. The production of artificial intelligence software is still a hot political issue, and its control is even more challenging than the systems on which it runs.
Governments are seeking to find the right approach for controlling the use of artificial intelligence, and we will certainly see different regulations from country to country. It is important not to sacrifice innovation in the name of regulations. It is crucial to ensure that access to artificial intelligence technologies does not create a two-tiered society and inequalities. The use of artificial intelligence presents an opportunity for countries with lagging development to make a technological leap and leapfrog previous phases of the industrial revolution. Here, collaboration is essential to ensure access to platforms and data privacy, to improve the lives of all.
We have heard apocalyptic scenarios in which intelligent machines turn against us, enslave us, or wipe us out, like situations from The Matrix… all I can say is that these are exaggerations born out of a lack of understanding. Artificial intelligence lacks consciousness, is not malicious, and does not seek to harm us. It is important to distinguish reality from science fiction.
From a legal perspective, we are in uncharted territory. For example, could an artificial intelligence platform be considered the inventor of an innovation rather than just the tool we used to discover it? Today, there is no clear answer to this question. Additionally, there is the issue of intellectual property rights concerning the training of the artificial intelligence platform. Artificial intelligence uses data we provide to create new, original outputs, much like how we compose and create when exposed to books, art, or music. I believe that instead of focusing on how artificial intelligence learns, we should concentrate on the output of AI.
Artificial intelligence is a critical technology that can help improve the economy, drive innovation, and enhance the daily lives of citizens and the operation of the state. However, it is much more than that. It is an opportunity that could make our country a leader on the international stage.
Our active participation in this journey is crucial for the security and prosperity of our nation, with multiple benefits both strategically and economically.
