Artificial intelligence has already become part of the daily lives of millions of people, often without them even realising it. From text translation and information searches to chatbots, travel planning, and task support, AI applications are now directly or indirectly woven into our way of being.

Its use, however, is not limited to the tools on our personal devices. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed in sectors where decisions directly affect citizens’ lives, from healthcare and public administration to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. It can help a doctor detect a disease early, support a public servant in serving citizens, contribute to more efficient use of resources in agriculture, or help a small or medium-sized business better organise its production and sales.

The possibilities are vast, and so are the challenges. What happens when artificial intelligence is used to evaluate job candidates, or to help select recipients of a public benefit? When it supports a medical diagnosis or a legal proceeding? How can these decisions be made reliable, transparent, and free of discrimination?

The European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) seeks to answer these questions, and Greece’s national implementation framework, now under discussion in the relevant parliamentary committee, is designed to set out how the rules will be applied domestically.

Not all applications are treated the same

The AI Act’s core principle is that not all artificial intelligence applications carry the same risk. A chatbot answering citizens’ queries is not held to the same requirements as a system capable of influencing hiring decisions, student evaluations, or access to a critical public service.

The regulation therefore takes a risk-based approach: the greater an application’s potential impact on health, safety, or fundamental rights, the stricter the rules governing it. High-risk applications must meet specific requirements on reliability, human oversight, and transparency, while certain uses, such as social scoring or particular forms of biometric surveillance, are banned outright.

What changes for citizens

For citizens, the new framework chiefly means greater protection and transparency. An AI application used to evaluate a job application, influence access to an educational programme, or support decisions with a significant impact on someone’s life cannot operate without rules and oversight.

Equally, when a citizen interacts with an AI system, such as a customer service chatbot, they must be made aware that they are conversing with a machine rather than a human being. Transparency is one of the framework’s central principles.

What it means for businesses

For businesses, the AI Act is not simply a set of obligations, it also creates a stable operating environment. Until now, many companies have developed AI applications without knowing which rules would ultimately apply across the European market. They now have a common framework spanning all member states, reducing uncertainty and encouraging investment.

Central to this is the AI Regulatory Sandbox, a controlled testing environment through which start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to trial innovative applications under real-world conditions, with government support, before bringing them to market. The aim, officials say, is not to slow innovation but to foster it within an environment of trust, where businesses understand the rules and citizens feel safe using new technologies.

Papastergiou: “This is fundamentally about trust”

Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPE), Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, underlined the need to strike a balance between fostering innovation and protecting citizens, noting that the debate around artificial intelligence is ultimately about trust rather than technology alone.

“The discussion about artificial intelligence is not just about technology. It is primarily about trust,” Papastergiou said. “The more AI influences our daily lives, the greater our responsibility to establish rules that protect citizens while also creating the conditions for innovation to flourish safely. With the national framework for implementing the AI Act, we are ensuring precisely this balance: a safe environment for citizens, a clear framework for businesses, and the right foundations for artificial intelligence to contribute to a more effective government and a more competitive economy.”

Why a national framework is needed

Although the AI Act applies across all EU member states, each country must determine how to put it into practice. Key questions include which authority will regulate the market, where citizens can turn if they believe their rights have been violated, how AI developers will be supported, and how public agencies will coordinate their efforts.

Greece’s bill addresses these issues, providing for the designation of competent supervisory authorities, the creation of a Coordination and Expertise Centre, the operation of the AI Regulatory Sandbox, the establishment of a Unified Registry of Public Artificial Intelligence Systems, and a single mechanism for filing complaints.

Artificial intelligence is expected to affect nearly every sector of the economy and public life in the coming years, from healthcare and education to industry, agriculture, transport, and the functioning of the state itself. The question, officials argue, is no longer whether AI will become part of daily life for citizens, businesses, and public institutions, but how it can be harnessed to deliver real benefits for society.

Greece’s national AI Act framework forms part of a wider strategy for AI development in the country, encompassing the digital transformation of the public sector, the use of open data, stronger research support, and backing for start-ups and new applications.

Officials are also placing emphasis on public education through initiatives such as the “Artificial Intelligence Guide for Everyone,” aimed at helping society understand, use, and participate in the changes the technology brings.