On June 20, Athens became the epicenter of scholarly dialogue on the intersection of philosophy and artificial intelligence, hosting The Lyceum Project – an annual initiative where world-leading academics and practitioners explore how technology can sustain and enrich society.
Among the distinguished participants – which included Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece – were the Department of Government’s Sergio Imparato, Lecturer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Hannah Kunzman, Ph.D. candidate.
Sergio Imparato was invited to speak on the ‘Age-Appropriate AI Design’ panel, where he joined experts from around the world to discuss how to build AI systems that are not only advanced but also ethically grounded and tailored to the needs of children. The panel explored multidisciplinary strategies to ensure that child-centered AI reflects diverse perspectives and responsibly connects research and industry.
Hannah Kunzman was selected for the Young Scholars Session, which was held in collaboration with Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece. She presented her research paper titled “A Care Ethical Approach to Children’s Agency in the Age of AI”, which considered how traditional philosophical views often regard children as incomplete agents whose diminished autonomy justifies adult authority and protection, especially in contexts like AI use. Alongside five fellow emerging voices, she emphasized the importance of considering children’s agency as AI technologies become central in education and daily life.
The Lyceum Project aims to uncover insights and offer pathways that guide technology toward sustaining and enriching the interconnected web of life. This year it was organized by the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” and the World Human Forum, in cooperation with the Special Secretariat of Foresight under the Presidency of the Government of the Hellenic Republic, and hosted by Athens Conservatoire.
This modern Lyceum provides a space where philosophy, science, the arts, and humanities converge to tackle the greatest challenges of our time.