PRESS RELEASE
Greek Minister of Digital Governance and leading experts debate how A.I. is
reshaping democracy at the Athens Democracy Forum
With growing concerns over authoritarian trends, the Athens Democracy Forum brings
together policymakers, tech experts and academics to examine how algorithms
influence decision-making and citizens’ rights.
Athens, 2 September 2025 – In the wake of the pivotal 2024 elections and the growing
influence of artificial intelligence in the public sphere, Athens will become, from September
30 to October 3, 2025, a global meeting point for politicians, academics, and technologists at
the Athens Democracy Forum 2025. This year’s edition introduces for the first time dedicated
“A.I., Ethics & Democracy Sessions”, focusing on how A.I. is reshaping decision-making, the
protection of political and digital rights, and transparency at a time of rising authoritarian
voices.
Key participants and panels
The opening day will feature the Greek Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris
Papastergiou, alongside speakers such as Christos Megalou (CEO, Piraeus Bank), Yannis
Assael (Google DeepMind & OECD AI Partnership), professors from Oxford, ETH Zürich, and
the University of Crete, as well as representatives from the European political scene.
Discussions will address the ethical and regulatory challenges of AI, while also exploring its
implications for democratic processes and political rights in an era of geopolitical uncertainty
and authoritarian trends.
At the heart of the program is Yannis Mastrogeorgiou, Special Secretary for Foresight at the
Presidency of the Hellenic Government, who will present Greece’s digital transformation
strategy. The panel “Harnessing AI to strengthen democracy” will bring together policymakers
and experts such as Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament), Martyna
Bildziukiewicz (Deputy Head of Division, European External Action Service), and Axel
Dauchez (President and Founder of Make.org, co-Founder of the Worldwide Alliance for AI &
Democracy) to debate whether AI can safeguard or undermine democratic institutions and
citizens’ rights.
Philosophy meets Technology
One of the most anticipated sessions is an Oxford Union–style debate entitled “Aristotelian
ethics as a framework for the challenges of Artificial Intelligence”. Leading scholars including
John Tasioulas (University of Oxford), Peter G. Kirchschläger (ETH Zürich / University of
Lucerne), Stavroula Tsinorema (University of Crete), and Fereniki Panagopoulou (Panteion
University), moderated by Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (The New York Times), will explore
whether classical philosophical principles can provide guidance for the dilemmas posed by A.I.
today.
Emerging technologies and research perspectives
The agenda also includes discussions on A.I. factories, high-performance computing, and
new A.I. business models, featuring Stefanos Kollias (Chairman of GRNET & Coordinator of
the Pharos AI Factory project), Christoforos Anagnostopoulos (McKinsey QuantumBlack),
and Dr. Vangelis Karkaletsis (Director, Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications, NCSR
Demokritos), underlining the contribution of Greek research to the global AI debate.
The Athens Democracy Forum 2025 positions Athens as a global hub for debate on artificial
intelligence and democracy, opening critical conversations on how algorithms are shaping
political decision-making, influencing elections, and testing the resilience of democratic
institutions.
Save the Date:
September 30 — October 3, 2025
Athens Conservatoire
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About The Democracy & Culture Foundation, organizer of the Athens Democracy Forum
The Democracy & Culture Foundation was founded in 2019. The Foundation’s mission is to
empower society through citizen engagement and better governance, by becoming the
leading global platform for dialogue and solution-oriented activities concerning the evolution
of democracy and culture. Two of its major events, the Athens Democracy Forum in
association with The New York Times and Art for Tomorrow, are held annually and designed
to convene, connect and foster collaboration between prominent and emerging voices for
both democracy and culture. The Foundation also runs initiatives worldwide with its partners,
including Teens for Democracy and Building Blocks for Democracy.
For more information, please visit the Foundation’s
website https://www.democracyculturefoundation.org/
and follow us on our social channels.
Press inquiries: Paul Goguel Masson, Director, Communications –
paul@democracyculturefoundation.org