The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referred to the need to create a “new operating system” for governing the country during a speech at an event at Zappeion, placing special emphasis on the role of technology and Artificial Intelligence in transforming the public sector.

The discussion took place as part of the Panathēnea 2026 festival with Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabs.

As he stressed, the government has redesigned procedures, data handling, and its overall level of ambition regarding the use of technology in public services. “We need a new operating system for government compared to what we have today,” he said.

The Prime Minister also noted that Greece is “at the forefront” of developments, seeking close cooperation with technology companies to upgrade public services. “We want the AI revolution to become a real tool and to show the world that we can use it meaningfully in public services,” he underlined.

At the same time, he referred to significant progress in the country’s digital transformation, estimating that it is already considered a “major success,” while adding that “we are still at the beginning,” foreshadowing further interventions and investments in digital governance.

The three pillars

The Prime Minister outlined three main pillars for Greece’s next step in Artificial Intelligence, stressing the need for the country to play an active and leading role in technological developments.

He emphasized that the first challenge is the strategic use of AI in the public sector, with “smart and responsible use” in public services. The second pillar, he said, is the creation of “sovereign AI infrastructure,” so the country can attract strong investment interest and strengthen its position on the European map.

He also referred to the need for Greece to participate in European digital infrastructure, as well as to have a structured national strategy for attracting investment in the sector. Particular emphasis was placed on the regulatory framework, noting that “smart regulations” are needed that do not hinder innovation but facilitate it, while also stressing the importance of strengthening startups so they can operate at a European scale.

Link to children and social media – toward a new regulatory approach

In the more social part of his remarks, the Prime Minister focused on the effects of constant screen use and social media, noting that “scrolling” is now a reality that takes time away from children and affects the development of their skills.

In this context, he linked this concern to Artificial Intelligence as well, stressing that it is the “next big frontier” of politics and technology. He said that once the issue of social media is sufficiently regulated, the focus should shift to how to create a “smart space” for children and teenagers to use AI safely and with educational value, including through experimental applications in schools.

Meeting at the Maximos Mansion

Earlier, Mr. Staniszewski visited the Maximos Mansion, where he signed a memorandum of understanding between the Greek government and his company.

ElevenLabs was founded in 2022 with the goal of developing AI-generated voices that sound human, quickly gaining recognition in the generative AI space. The company is now headquartered in London, with a significant international presence in cities such as New York, Warsaw, and San Francisco, and plans further expansion into markets including Paris, Singapore, Brazil, and Mexico.

The Polish entrepreneur and co-founder studied mathematics at Imperial College London and previously worked at companies such as Palantir and BlackRock before founding ElevenLabs in 2022. Today, his company has become one of the most dynamic players in the global AI ecosystem, valued at around $11 billion following a major funding round involving investors such as Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz.