Greek Prime Minister Says Governments Unready for AI Wave on US Trade Visit

While on a recent trade mission to the United States, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis deviated from the usual promotional talking points to point out a sobering fact: the majority of governments lack the capacity to manage the sweeping effects of artificial intelligence.

After a round of business‑to‑government discussions, Mitsotakis told reporters that AI tools are advancing faster than policy structures can keep up, forcing officials to race to grasp both the benefits and the hazards. “We are already fighting yesterday’s battle,” he observed, highlighting how quickly AI progress can make current rules outdated.

His frank statement arrived as Europe intensifies efforts to steer AI regulation, with the EU drafting the AI Act and member nations hurriedly syncing their national plans. Greece, branding itself as a Mediterranean digital hub, has rolled out programs to lure tech startups and raise digital literacy, but the prime minister’s remarks hint at a disconnect between aspiration and preparedness.

Analysts point out that Greece is not alone in facing this issue. Throughout Europe, authorities wrestle with concerns over data privacy, algorithmic bias, and job displacement. Although a few countries have set up AI ethics committees or allocated research funds, the prevailing view is that thorough legislation trails behind commercial rollout, particularly in finance, healthcare, and public‑service sectors.

In the United States—the focal point of the trade mission—lawmakers are wrestling with comparable challenges, trying to balance incentives for innovation against demands for tighter oversight. Mitsotakis stressed the importance of global collaboration, citing how common standards and joint research initiatives could curb disjointed strategies.

Looking forward, the Greek leader said his government will focus on establishing a dedicated AI task force, improving coordination across ministries, and consulting both academia and industry. He added that the aim is to develop forward‑looking policies capable of evolving with technology instead of merely reacting. As AI keeps reshaping global economies, Mitsotakis’s caution could act as a prompt for governments to shift from reactive stances to proactive governance.