Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held discussions focused on technological innovations and artificial intelligence with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis at the Maximos Mansion. The main topic of their conversations was “The Future of Artificial Intelligence.” The Prime Minister, referring to the subject of discussion, emphasized: “We will explore through Mr. Hassabis’s experience in artificial intelligence where we should focus on governance issues, to improve the relationship between government and citizens and utilize AI tools.”
During the discussion, they examined ways to deepen and expand cooperation between both sides, given that Greece has highly specialized human resources in the field of artificial intelligence, has developed a particularly detailed strategy for smooth transition into the AI era, and has the ability to test potential AI applications in important sectors such as natural disaster protection, education, and healthcare.
The importance of establishing a clear framework for ethical use of artificial intelligence was also emphasized, as well as proper education of children in the AI era. “We have a very detailed strategy regarding the role and position that Greece can have in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. There are certain sectors like education and healthcare where I believe we can make tremendous progress and be at the forefront of innovation,” the Prime Minister stressed.
“We have a very dynamic innovation ecosystem in Greece. We will have the opportunity to speak to them tonight, thank you for agreeing to change the time of the event, you understand that at 21:00 in the evening, no matter how much artificial intelligence and your presence captivates them, I doubt there would be a large audience, but let’s also talk about issues I know interest you, matters that concern you, about protecting children, minors, teenagers,” he added.
Mitsotakis-Hassabis meeting at Maximos: “Greece has a tremendous opportunity to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence”
At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister stated:
“Demis, I’m really pleased to welcome you and to have this discussion with some of our top Ministers. I just want to note that we truly appreciate the relationship we have built with Google. We consider it a strategic partnership. We have already achieved results in various sectors, such as infrastructure, culture and education, but the purpose of this discussion is to leverage your global knowledge in artificial intelligence to identify new areas of cooperation, particularly regarding governance efficiency.
This is an issue that particularly interests me. We see excellent opportunities for streamlining government services and improving interaction between government and citizens. We have already integrated AI tools into the main public services portal and the results are extremely impressive. We would also like to understand how you see Greece’s position in the new emerging artificial intelligence landscape.”
At another point in his statements, Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized: “And of course, to discuss the conversation about the public sphere and how we could use artificial intelligence to break the “silos” of polarization and have a more civilized dialogue, something that should naturally concern us all, as democratic countries, especially in light of the horrific events that took place on the other side of the Atlantic. I’ll stop here. Again, thank you very much for dedicating time to our team.”
Google DeepMind Co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis noted for his part: “Greece has a tremendous opportunity to be at the forefront of maximizing AI capabilities, leveraging the impressive startup ecosystem and innovation culture it possesses. Together with the rest of Europe, Greece can also play a significant role in shaping responsible AI development and governance globally, working closely with allies like the US and the UK.”
The meeting was attended, from the government side, by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Labor and Social Security Niki Kerameos, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, Special Secretary for Long-term Planning at the Greek Government Presidency Yannis Mastrogeorgiou, and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office for International Strategic Planning and Communication, Aristotelia Peloni. From Google’s side, Eugenia Bozou, Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, also participated.
It should be noted that at 19:45, the Prime Minister will participate in a discussion with Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, within the framework of the Athens Innovation Summit 2025 organized by Endeavor Greece at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
