Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis openly acknowledged during a San Francisco visit that he lacks clear answers to many of the AI challenges leaders around the world are privately debating.
The visit, which included stops at Tesla and Sequoia Capital, was partly a fact-finding mission and aimed at attracting tech investment to Greece, which is set to regain developed market status next year from MSCI.
Mitsotakis noted that Greece is paying down its debt at a record pace and borrows more cheaply than the United States, with its 10-year bond yield around 4.3%, compared to roughly 5% for U.S. Treasuries. This marks a stark contrast to the 40% yields seen during Greece's 2012 debt crisis.
The prime minister highlighted Greece's investments in digital infrastructure, including a €36 billion EU recovery fund allocation for projects like a new supercomputer in Lavrio, set to power AI and scientific research. He also mentioned policy changes, such as revised stock option taxes and relaxed labor laws, to attract tech companies.
"I think it’s another indication that the economy is doing well and that Greece is no longer treated as a special case," Mitsotakis said. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach to AI in education, warning against complacency as students increasingly use chatbots for homework.
Mitsotakis also discussed Greece's stance on AI infrastructure, noting that the country has not faced significant opposition to data centers, with Microsoft and AWS investing in projects near Athens. He acknowledged the challenges of job displacement due to AI and supported the call for smart regulation, with the U.S. likely to shape its form.
Mitsotakis did not specify how Greece will address AI's societal impact and admitted that the country is already fighting yesterday's battles, raising questions about the future of human identity in the face of rapidly advancing AI.
Source: techcrunch
