The speaker was Professor of Digital Systems and Head of the Hellenic National Cybersecurity Team, Christos Xenakis, who highlighted the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence. On one hand, AI represents a driving force of innovation and development, with an impact comparable to the discovery of electricity or the internet. On the other hand, it introduces new and serious challenges for security, as it can be turned into a tool for cyberattacks and disinformation.
Professor Xenakis presented the historical evolution of Artificial Intelligence, from its first steps in the 1980s, with early computing and data analysis, to today’s generative models and large language systems that are drastically changing the way information is produced and disseminated. This trajectory includes rule-based systems in the 1990s, the emergence of the internet and predictive analytics in the early 2000s, the rise of machine learning and automation in the 2010s, and, more recently, the rapid development of deep learning and generative AI. With time intervals that are steadily shrinking, we observe the exponential progress of artificial intelligence.
This technology opens up tremendous opportunities for society. In the field of healthcare, it offers possibilities for smart diagnoses and personalized treatments; in energy, it promises optimal resource management and green solutions; in transportation, it can improve safety and efficiency; while in entrepreneurship, it creates new forms of activity and employment.
However, the same capabilities are accompanied by darker aspects. The spread of deepfakes fuels mass disinformation, phishing attacks are now supported by AI algorithms, malware and ransomware become more effective, while AI infrastructures themselves are turning into targets of attacks in the form of adversarial manipulation, data poisoning, or model theft.
This new reality creates significant challenges at the level of ethics and governance as well. Issues such as algorithmic bias, the protection of privacy, and the need for “explainable AI” bring to the forefront the values of transparency, trust, and accountability. The European Union and the United States are already developing regulatory frameworks, such as the EU AI Act, NIS2, DORA, and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, to ensure that this technology will be deployed safely and responsibly.
A significant part of the presentation was also devoted to the participation of the University of Piraeus in cutting-edge research projects funded by the European Union. The RESCALE project aims to strengthen cybersecurity in software and hardware supply chains. The AIAS project focuses on developing defensive techniques against attacks targeting AI systems, while also creating explainability tools for greater transparency. The ANTIDOTE project combines artificial intelligence with the medical Internet of Things, enhancing the resilience and security of healthcare systems. Finally, the cPAID project develops a cloud-based framework to protect AI applications from attacks, while also introducing certification schemes for security, privacy, and ethical excellence.
As Professor Christos Xenakis emphasized, Artificial Intelligence is simultaneously an opportunity and a threat. The crucial question is not anymore, whether we will adopt it, but how we will secure it so that it functions to the benefit of society.
The presentation at the Thessaloniki International Fair highlighted the leading position of the University of Piraeus in the field of research on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, confirming that the Institution does not simply follow developments but actively contributes to shaping them.