Google Boosts Presence in Greece with Data Center Investment

The global technology giant Google is amplifying its footprint in Greece through a substantial investment in the establishment of data centers.

This initiative, part of the long-anticipated creation of the first “Google Cloud Region” in Southeast Europe, underscores the company’s commitment to harnessing cloud technologies for the benefit of Greek businesses, organizations, and the public sector.

The announcement comes on the heels of Google’s inauguration of the international hub for cybersecurity, the “Google Safety Engineering Center,” in Malaga, Spain. At this event, Google revealed plans for a free education and certification program in cybersecurity for eight European countries, including Greece.

The program, with a budget of $10 million, will be executed in collaboration with the “European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator” organization, involving eight universities from respective countries.

Google’s International Relations president, Kent Walker, disclosed that the program aims to train over 1,600 students in the next three years, simultaneously supporting more than 3,200 local organizations across Europe in cybersecurity matters.

Greek Prime Minister and Google Vice President’s Meeting

PM Mitsotakis at Google event: Greece aims to become an int'l hub for AI's code of ethicshttps://t.co/tW318P9M6Z pic.twitter.com/f8siy0Ab4B

— ANA-MPA news (@amna_newseng) November 30, 2023

As part of an event to mark the 15th anniversary of Google’s presence in Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with Google Vice President of Engineering and Research Yossi Mathias.

During the event in Athens, Mitsotakis expressed his fascination with AI and outlined plans for Greece to become a global center for AI ethics and code of conduct. The fireside chat with Yossi Matias delved into discussions on striking a balance between AI and human movements, addressing challenges in climate change prediction, healthcare, and education.

The Prime Minister identified three key areas where AI could positively impact society:

Climate Change. Mitsotakis noted that advanced AI models could enhance the accuracy and speed of predicting extreme weather events, offering more precise estimates than currently possible.

Healthcare. AI holds significant promise in healthcare, with new tools already demonstrating results, particularly in areas like skin cancer research. The Prime Minister emphasized how these tools empower specialists.

Education. While recognizing the potential benefits, the Prime Minister highlighted the challenges in education. He expressed concerns about the possibility of humans being replaced in text and speech production by algorithms. He stressed the need for the development of tools in education that can differentiate between content created by algorithms and humans.

He also stressed the need for responsible AI development, especially in areas where human interaction is integral.

Yossi Matias echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the empowering potential of AI in society but acknowledging the ethical complexities that come with it. The Prime Minister expressed optimism about continuing collaboration with Google, underlining the importance of ethical considerations in the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence.