The artificial intelligence is no longer a tool of the future. It is already present, almost quietly, transforming the way we seek information, organizing our work and making decisions.
«Somehow it seems we've reached this point: talking to the machine and answering you in the most natural way», stresses in Maritime affairs Peggy Antonaku, Director-General of Google Southeastern Europe.
Mrs Antonakos, whom we met at the 11th Delphi Economic Forum, describes a profound change in user behaviour: «The world now asks in a way much more complex and lengthy. We ask each other as we speak». Search turns into conversation and AI into one «soft» personal assistant, who can organise a trip, explain an information or process data — without requiring any technical knowledge. «You don't need to know the code, not even write. You can talk or use an image», notes.
Small and medium-sized enterprises: Access to opportunities that were elusive
For the Greek economy, where small and medium-sized enterprises dominate, change is catalytic. «Over 90% of those who have used artificial intelligence have seen either a turnover increase or a productivity increase and a cost reduction», points out.
AI acts as an operational «accelerator»: allows faster data analysis, better customer understanding and content production in time that previously seemed unthinkable. «You can make a video in a few minutes, while it would take days and significant costs.»He says.
But the most impressive thing is that geographical restrictions are lifted: «You can be in Casso and have access to a global audience.». Business can now be «Run» campaigns in dozens of languages, at no translation cost, and spot customers around the world.
Labour market: «94% will be positively affected»
The speed of change fuels fear of job loss. However, the picture derived from the data is different.
«Only 6% of the professions will be negatively affected. 94% will either be positively affected or not affected at all», points out, citing a survey on Greece.
AI, as explained, does not replace — enhances: «You'll do your job better and faster. You'll have access to more knowledge.». And it simply gives examples: a doctor will better view the data, a journalist will speed up his research.
At the same time, it stresses the importance of responsibility: «We're talking about the most powerful tool we've invented. He wants responsibility and we as Google always say that we are facing and approaching the issue with innovation and with very important responsibility. So the responsibility is for us creating technology and for those who make solutions based on this technology and the way it is used.».
Misinformation: technology as part of the solution
Another concern concerns the ability of AI to produce false, convincing content. On the crucial issue of misinformation, the answer comes from technology itself. «Gemini puts digital signature on content created with artificial intelligence», explains.
However, it insists that technology is not enough in itself: «He wants knowledge, he wants responsibility, and eventually the intention of use plays a role.».
The skills that will make a difference
In a world changing at such speed, three skills emerge critical: «Adaptability, curiosity and mood for learning».
She stands particularly in the importance of familiarity with tools: «They're already there, talking to you, proposing solutions. We have to experiment.».
Especially for women says that while many understand the importance of artificial intelligence, a small percentage actively exploits it. «It's a gap we have to fill», notes, stressing that technology is now fully accessible.
Education: «Knowledge is up to us.»
Education plays a key role in the transition. As Peggy Antonakos explains, Google actively participates in an organized civil servants training program in collaboration with the Greek State.
It is an institutional initiative implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the National Centre for Public Administration and Government, with the aim of strengthening digital skills and practical exploitation of artificial intelligence in the daily functioning of the state.
Only in the period 2024–2025 were more than 35,000 public employee entries recorded in artificial intelligence programs, through dozens of training sessions focusing on «practice AI» and the use of tools in daily work.
The same goes for the initiative. «AI for All», which aims to make artificial intelligence accessible to the entire public administration, enhancing the efficiency of services and the quality of service for citizens.
At the same time, Google implements free educational programs for professionals, students and unemployed persons, as well as actions in schools and universities.
As she points out, education «It's now up to us.» — and is a prerequisite for turning technology from potential to a real change tool.
AlphaFold: when AI accelerates science
The most impressive proof of the power of AI lies in science. AlphaFold, developed by Google DeepMind, solved a decades-old problem: predicting the 3D protein structure.
For decades, this process required years of painful and accurate work. Today, it takes place in no time.
AlphaFold database is used by more than 3 million researchers in over 190 countries and includes more than 200 million protein structures — a work that, by traditional methods, would require hundreds of millions of years.
Over 30% of the research is focused on understanding diseases, while his contribution was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024. The next generation, AlphaFold 3, expands capabilities to DNA, RNA and pharmaceutical molecules, paving the way for a new era «digital biology».
«We're the generation at the wheel.»
Ποια περιμένει η ίδια να είναι η μεγαλύτερη αλλαγή που θα φέρει η Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη τα επόμενα 5 ή 10 χρόνια; «Θα σας πω τι ελπίζω και τι θα ονειρευόμουν. Να δούμε τεράστια διαφορά στο κομμάτι της επιστήμης, στον ρυθμό με τον οποίο τρέχει η επιστήμη… Ας ελπίσουμε ότι στα επόμενα 10 χρόνια θα έχουμε καταφέρει τρόπους να λύσουμε τις βασικές ασθένειες τις οποίες ταλαιπωρούν το είδος μας».
Κοιτάζοντας μπροστά, η Πέγκυ Αντωνάκου εστιάζει στο ουσιαστικό διακύβευμα: όχι στην τεχνολογία, αλλά στον τρόπο που θα τη χρησιμοποιήσουμε.
«Είμαστε η γενιά που βρίσκεται στο τιμόνι αυτής της αλλαγής», λέει. Και καταλήγει με μια φράση που συνοψίζει τη φιλοσοφία της νέας εποχής: «Να σώσουμε χρόνο από πράγματα που δεν χρειάζονται ανθρώπινη σκέψη και να τον επενδύσουμε στην ενσυναίσθηση, στο ήθος και σε αυτά που μας κάνουν ανθρώπους».
