Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has emphasised that Europe is capable of developing its own powerful artificial intelligence systems, rooted in European values, languages and cultural identity.
Speaking in a public discussion with Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, during the GenAI Summit, Mitsotakis argued that Europe must not rely solely on the United States for foundational AI technologies.
The Prime Minister highlighted Greece’s rapid digital transformation over recent years, pointing to the creation of the Ministry of Digital Governance in 2019 as a decisive milestone. He stressed that the centralised nature of the Greek state provides uniform access to data—especially in healthcare—making collaboration with AI companies significantly easier.
Mitsotakis also pointed to practical applications already underway. He referred to pilot programs in the public sector where AI tools drastically reduced the time required to review notarial documents—from nearly two hours to just 10 minutes. Tools like these, he insisted, will not replace public sector workers but will increase efficiency, thereby fostering trust rather than fear.
Turning to the justice system, he argued that AI can simplify processes, reduce administrative burdens and allow judges to focus on the essential substance of each case. In the field of education, Mitsotakis foresaw a major shift as AI enables personalised learning—something students are already attempting informally and without oversight.
However, he warned of two significant risks: the uncontrolled use of AI tools by students, and the potential for sophisticated misinformation campaigns capable of influencing democratic processes. Regulation, he said, must strike a careful balance between innovation and citizen protection.
The Prime Minister insisted that Europe must build strong indigenous AI models that safeguard its democratic values. “Europe can and must stay competitive,” he said. “We can develop sovereign AI systems that respect our cultural heritage, multilingual reality and commitment to transparency.”
